Book 4: The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan

by Espeon804

Book 4. Humanity has proved itself a threat. Their ultimate creation backfires and becomes their worst enemy. A Bio-Android goes by the name of Cell - an insect like organism who absorbs anyone it can get to... but for what purpose? Saiyan, Human, Namekian, and Android are forced to join forces. This is indeed a dissonance. It seems that Goku is struggling with himself.

23. Human warriors, prove your worth!

Chapter 23 Plot:

Chapter 23: "Human warriors, prove your worth! It's time to go all-out!" Cell so far shows little signs of being taken down. The hope next lies on the Z-Fighters who most of the Saiyans find a bit… unhelpful. However, Kakarot knows they aren't to be underestimated. The Humans learned a lot since their defeat five years back! Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien work together to fight that terrible threat! It seems they truly learned a lot. Humans learn from their mistakes better than anyone else, after all!

WHILE THE FIGHTING CARRIES ON…

The Z-Fighters find themselves backed up against a corner, but why aren't they worried? Shouldn't they be afraid, or perhaps a little concerned? Their confidence is a strange one that confuses even Piccolo. It's clear they just have something stashed away, but if Cell grows too bored too soon, whatever fail-safe plan they have might as well be thrown out the window!

But it's not just Cell's tolerance they have to worry about….

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A/N: Espeon804 here with another great chapter!

PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023!

WORDS: 25,693

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SPECIAL CHAPTER THEME TIME:

Y'all know the drill. When you see the number next to a paragraph, add a link to a YouTube URL and listen to music as you read! I even added the name in case you don't feel like typing all those symbols. :)

Today is the Dragon Ball Z Kai (and Super) OST!

1) "An Antagonistic Battle"

/watch?v=jZSBEuOExwM

2) "Last Hit Victory"

/watch?v=jRRFfu9esGY

3) "Dream Tag Match"

/watch?v=Ea5pAoaZIFg

4) "A Battle Of Rivalry"

/watch?v=FC757TSFrZA

5) "A Mighty Foe"

/watch?v=oG2a0LG1Zmo

6) "The Braveheart Challenges the Strong."

/watch?v=xAPl0bsAGyc

7) "A Disastrous Spectacle"

/watch?v=MJfpW7TAlfE

8) "Off to a New Adventure"

/watch?v=3lCnbZkatcU

---

If anyone is reading this, I'm surprised you are. I won't even be upset if anyone dropped the series. I would have.

So what made me pick this back up?

Well, I just didn't like the idea of going another year without a new chapter. The dedication to finish what my teenage self started is still there.

Can't believe it's been 8 years. The series is basically in the 3rd grade.

I will stop talking here. It's time to pick up where we left off.

-Espeon804

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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DB, DBZ, DBGT, DBZKAI, OR DBS! Akira Toriyama is the creator!

Key:

"Talking"

"Foreign Language"

'Thoughts'

'Telepathy'

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-- Chapter 23: Human warriors, prove your worth! It's time to go all-out! --

Cell stands there, wearing the smuggest grin ever seen on his face. It is easy to see why. The group of fighters he called to fight him are seen as the weakest among the group. They have every reason to be nervous.

After seeing Trunks' torment and how he is currently out of commission, if he alone can't handle Cell, what about the four of them? With their combined strength, they are at least as strong as a single Saiyan. Maybe a little more than that.

They had Piccolo who fused with Kami. Is it enough?

There is so much doubt in the air from the other fighters. Cell can sense it, and he is chuckling to himself about it. He probably sees them as a mere warm up exercise.

Insulting.

But can they really subvert expectations?

"If you let even an ounce of doubt cloud your judgment, then you're already dead." Piccolo's low voice snaps the Human fighters from their trance. "Cell expects us to fail. Don't give him the satisfaction."

"Whoever said we would?" Tien cracks his knuckles, his eyes locked on the insect that mocks them. "We accepted we aren't so strong a long time ago. But we already addressed that."

Krillin nods. Yamcha takes a deep breath.

"Alright guys. This is it." Krillin clenches both fists. "Not like there's any turning back anyways. All we can do is show this monster what we are made of."

"Cute words, coming from someone so small," Cell says. Krillin ignores the mockery.

Piccolo turns away from the talking and speaks up. "Hey. Saiyan girl."

Kauli realizes he is talking to her. She walks closer, not expecting to be addressed by him at all. "Uh, yeah?"

Piccolo drops the bag into Kauli's hands.

"Why do you trust me with this?" Kauli asks.

"Because you're the only one not careless enough to lose them," Piccolo says. "We might need them soon, so keep an eye on it."

He is already walking to the ring, to Cell's amusement. The other Z-Fighters follow, more anxious, but they swell themselves with courage to keep them from having second thoughts.

"I do hope Kakarot is right about them," Raditz says, as he watches Krillin jump into the ring. "They didn't have the best first-impression when they fought as a group before."

Yamcha stops and turns, facing Raditz. "You've made me look like a joke twice before. This time, I'll stand my ground."

"Twice?" Raditz takes a second to think, and he chuckles. "I don't know about that one. I wasn't the one who killed you. How did you die again? Oh, that's right. You abandoned the battlefield crying out for Bulma—"

"I was going to save my GIRLFRIEND!" Yamcha snaps, stomping close to Raditz's face. "The one person you stole and took from me! You sick monster! She never wanted you!"

"Whoa, whoa where is this coming from?" Kauli is surprised by all the commotion. "Can we save this for later? Hello?"

"Yes, Kauli has a point. Are we seriously having this discussion now?" Raditz huffs. "Really? Right before you fight the overgrown insect? Does it bother you that much?"

Yamcha growls. "Yes, it does!"

"Come on, Yamcha. Don't get yourself killed," Tien calls with a sigh.

"Okay, so we are having the discussion." Raditz nearly rolls his eyes. "Fine. I'll humor you. I never had any intentions with her, Human. Walk away before you hurt yourself. Perhaps what you see as a tragedy is what saved everyone here. We would all be dead if it wasn't for the appearance of my son."

Yamcha is frozen, seething with anger. He glares at the sleeping teenager before glaring back at Raditz.

"You can't deny the truth." Raditz walks away. "Now, make yourself useful and go fight. Talking to me will only waste time."

Everyone is still as Raditz halts his steps.

He slowly turns his head, his eyes fixed on the hand gripping his tail. "I would let go, if I were you."

"I'm not finished," Yamcha says.

Raditz narrows his eyes.

"Did you hurt her? Where is she? I heard that she's been revived, so tell me where she is!"

"Let. Go."

"I asked you a question."

"Your priorities are on Cell."

"I haven't seen her in five years. Where is she?"

"Tch."

Yamcha nearly screams as the tail makes a sharp lash to the right. He is flung off his feet and hits the ground. He rolls to his knees in time to see Raditz standing over him.

"Consider yourself lucky that is all I did. I can care less about your feelings. It's irrelevant here. I should have killed you for that foolish stunt, but the Android is giving you a privilege. Don't throw it away early."

Yamcha opens his mouth, but Krillin jumps down and pulls him back by the shoulders. "He's right, buddy. I know you hate this, but this is the worst time to confront someone far stronger than you. Just…pin all that anger on that Cell guy. He's part Raditz, you know?"

"It's been half a decade anyways," Piccolo says. "Best you get over it."

Yamcha stands with Krillin's help. He sends one more glare towards Raditz before he steps into the ring. He rolls one arm around in a circle as a warm up as his eyes fall on his opponent.

"I think I like this Yamcha," Cell says. "I mean, he's still Yamcha…but this one has a bit of fire in him. He might last a little longer. Maybe two extra minutes."

Yamcha growls, and Tien puts a hand on his shoulder without a word. He isn't calming down at all. If anything, he appears to be getting more angry.

"Stupid Human." Raditz joins Kakarot's side, crossing his arms. "It's not like I stole his opportunity on purpose. He was dead."

"That…." Turles was going to comment, but he decided to keep it to himself.

"This isn't like him at all," Kakaraot notes. "I mean, I know I haven't seen him in a while, but he never acted like this before."

"Acting stupid? He's done it before," Raditz says.

"No, no. I mean, Yamcha usually isn't this…angry? It's hard to pin down. I'm sensing some serious stuff from him, and it's not his energy."

Turles hums. "Well, you know him better than the rest of us, so I'll take your word. He has been angsty in the last few days, but I think it has a lot to do with what he was just ranting about. He better listen and put that resentment to good use."

"Tch. Regardless of what takes place here, it won't be worth watching." Vegeta turns his back to the game. "They'll be crowfood within a few heartbeats."

"If there is anything left of them after this…" Nappa adds.

Kakarot shakes his head. "I don't know. These guys may not be warriors at heart, but they have the cleverness to make up for it. You see it right before you, don't you?"

Kauli frowns. "My sister… she had this all planned…"

Nappa frowns. "So the Humans created a bio-Android. But it never crossed their mind to have an emergency shut down button? Not so wise to me."

"Maybe because he's not all robot…?" Kauli says. "He was grown from a…bunch of our cells.'

Karot speaks up. "I remember seeing something similar to what Cell described. Back when we were fighting all the Androids… I came across this beaten down Red Ribbon hideout. It's where I found information about the Androids themselves."

"What of it?" Kauli asks.

"I found a tiny life form in some sort of chamber. It was floating in there, growing. I think that was our Cell." Karot's words surprise anyone near him. "But, before I could get a better look, I ran into Androids 13, 14, and 15."

"So that's how you got in that mess," Nappa says.

"But if Cell was in there, how did he end up in the Animal Kingdom room?" Raditz wonders.

"My so-called sister. She was doing a lot of running around," Kauli says. "She probably moved it. It was a smart move, considering things got destroyed within the area. It's either that or they made a backup Cell. Who knows?"

"I'm going to hope it's the former," Turles says.

Silence hangs in the air for several seconds. Everyone seems to agree. And now, they wait…and watch.

Tarble crosses his arms. "Kakarot. You say these Human fighters display far more prowl than what we assume?"

Kakarot nods once. "Yeah. Of course."

"Didn't see much of it back when we fought them," Nappa said. "But they certainly did get stronger. They did decent with containing Cell before he swallowed up 17."

"And for that reason is why you shouldn't underestimate their abilities," Kakarot says. "They may not be powerful…but we've seen firsthand just how stubborn Humans can be. When they put their minds together…that's what makes them dangerous. Just take a look at Cell. Crazy…to think a group of Humans created him out of spite."

"The embodiment of spite, is that so?" Vegeta agrees, which surprises a few. "Perhaps I can see why you hated them, Kakarot. They can be incredibly annoying. They've proved themselves to be difficult to get rid of. No matter how many are wiped out, there is always more. It's like a cockroach. How fitting, for their creation to take after one."

"Eugh…as if it isn't already obvious." Turles shivers again. "Although, it explains why he can live without a head."

"I…think that's just the Namekian cells doing that," Kauli says. She almost wants to agree. She decapitated Cell herself, and he bounced back like it was nothing. She is beginning to think nothing can keep him down.

They just have to keep trying.

They just started. She shouldn't be too worried…right?

But looking at how worn out Trunks is…one can't help but worry.

Gine hasn't moved since she got a hold of Trunks. She hasn't said a word yet either. It's a wonder what she's thinking. Her face looks focused.

'Maybe it's time to observe and learn from everyone else's mistakes.' Kauli turns to the battlefield. 'My own mistake plays a part to this damn insanity…I just hope Goku is right about them…'

The Z-Fighters slipping into their fighting stances is a sign that the next round is about to begin. Everyone falls quiet.

Cell chuckles as his opponents stand shoulder to shoulder. "So, are we done with the bickering? Is everyone ready? You don't have to answer that. No matter how ready you weaklings are, this is more of a test to see how long you can even stay in the ring before you—"

"Shut the hell up." Piccolo's blunt words makes the enemy wear a frown. The Namekian throws off his cape and tunic in one fair sweep. They fly out the ring before crashing and sinking into the ground. "Your mouth is running like Goku's, and it's getting on my nerves. Cut the unnecessary dialogue and let's just get it over with."

"What a killjoy. But alright. Fine." Cell places one foot in front of the other before spreading out his hands near his sides.

Piccolo stiffens, bearing his fangs.

Raditz knows why. That very same stance surfaces unpleasant memories he would rather not remember. "That's…that's Frieza's stance…"

Everyone stands in complete silence as Cell keeps his smug smile painted all over his face. He was waiting for one of them to make the first move.

Krillin wipes the sweat from his forehead before returning to his turtle stance. Very similar to that of Kakarot's and ChiChi's. Yamcha and Tien put on a brave face. Piccolo stands firm, staring Cell down.

Only the soft breeze of the wind keeps the silence at bay.

The three Human fighters exchange looks, and they nod before they vanish from where they stand. Their rapid moments can be heard slicing the air. Cell isn't the tiniest bit impressed as his eyes dart around.

1) He guards his face just in time to avoid the double punch attack from Krillin and Yamcha. The pair attack Cell with a barrage of punches and kicks. Cell is pushed back, but he doesn't appear to be in any trouble at all. He tolerates their attacks for several more seconds before he swings out both arms, sending them flying back. A glow behind him makes him turn around in time to swat away a blast sent by Tien.

A pair of energy spears strikes Cell on the back, sending him staggering forward. Cell turns around, seeing the two who attacked him before moving away. "Really?" He turned around, swatting aside a blast. "Really?!"

Tien moves back, and he's back in position.

"If this is your strategy, it's just an annoying tactic that will only waste time," Cell said. "I will compliment your efforts a week ago, but it won't work twice!"

He rockets forward, his eyes set on Tien!

"Try something new next time!"

Tien grits his teeth and makes a dive, but Cell dove after him. He was faster—throwing his knee up and striking Tien below the chin. He follows with a heavy punch against his torso, leaving the fighter winded with wide eyes.

"Oh, no! Tien Shinhan!" Krillin soars towards his ally, but Tien sends him a chilling glare that stops him in his tracks. 'What?'

Tien points two fingers towards Cell's face, and he fires an orange blast. It hits Cell directly on the eyes. He screams as he covers his face. Tien makes a drop towards the ground. The second he lands, he tries to shake the pain from his body.

"Oh, wow." Krillin drops next to him. "Nice job, Tien."

"You could have used that opening to attack him. What are you doing?" Tien's response catches Krillin by surprise, but he doesn't appear disappointed. "I understand we are in grave danger here, but have some more faith in us, alright? I won't fall so easily."

Krillin stares for a few seconds, taking the words in. His eyes harden as he nods, and he prepares himself as Cell lowers his hands, glaring at Tien.

"Not bad…a dirty move, but not bad…" Cell chuckles through the pain. The scorches on his face are fading. "But, it won't save you forever!"

He lunges again. Krillin and Tien leap apart, leaving Cell to punch through the ground. The bio-Android changes direction in an instant, soaring after Tien. Krillin is at his tail, but he can't keep up. Tien fires a sphere of energy, which Cell swats away. The gap between them is closed in a heartbeat. Tien blocks Cell's fast punch, then another. A kick throws him off balance. Another connects. A blast explodes against Cell's backside.

Krillin rockets around him, and he fires more in a frenzy. Cell rises out its range. His eyes dart to his left, and he narrowly dodges another flying orange blast that could have gone through his neck. He dives and turns, dodging their constant attacks before he decides he was done toying around.

Aiming the palms of his hands in opposite directions, he sneers.

"Double Sunday!"

The duo of pink blasts are unleashed. Both fighters are hit and sent flying back. Cell laughs as he chases after Tien. His right hand is cloaked with zapping pink energy. He crushes it to a fist and throws it forward, and Tien is struck. He gasps as his body locks against his will, grunting as the static runs through his entire body.

A heavy boot slams atop Cell's head, and he is thrown off course. He regains flight in time to see Yamcha sending a flurry of energy attacks raining down on him. A cloud of smoke rises, hiding both Cell and Yamcha within.

The blasts stop.

Tien shakes his body free with a grunt. 'Damn. Raditz's techniques are nothing to sneeze at. I couldn't do as much as move a finger!'

He looks at the smokescreen.

'If it weren't for Yamcha, I might have been blown out of the ring. I need to be more careful.'

Meanwhile, Raditz watches the chaos from the sidelines. He huffs at what he just witnessed. He isn't so fond of how Cell likes to use his techniques a bit too much.

"Did you see that?" Kakarot asks. His eyes are locked on the cloud that is slowly fading.

"The fact that freak of nature likes to spam my moves?" Raditz asks.

"No. I mean…it's the way Cell is fighting them," Kakarot says. "He keeps targeting Tien."

"Huh. Now that you point that out…how strange." Raditz crosses his arms, intrigued. "I don't get it. It makes sense on why he would ignore the others…except the Namekian. He's the strongest among them."

"That's the thing. It's not about strength he's after. I think he knows Tien has a lot of tricks up his sleeves. I can vouch for that."

Raditz glances at his little brother for a second before looking back at the battle. "So…the key is to take out the strategist."

Turles chuckles. "I'll give these Humans a little credit. They are lasting longer than I expected. This can't be all they got, right?"

"No way." Kakarot narrows his eyes. "Not even close."

Vegeta chuckles at the claim.

The cloud of smoke is blown away. Cell takes a look around, spotting Yamcha floating back with a frightened look on his face. "I guess this is what I get for ignoring something so irrelevant. An annoying pest who keeps gnawing at me."

The gap between them is closed in the blink of an eye. Yamcha had no time to scream.

The air is sliced behind Cell. He elbows Yamcha on the stomach to push him down before flying around the disk. He unleashed his own. Krillin ducks, and it whizzes over his head.

"Over here!" Piccolo shouts. He laps one hand over the other, holding them above his head as a powerful yellow charge forms into a sphere.

Cell spins around. "Where did you—"

Piccolo throws his hands down. "MASENKO-HAAAAAA!"

Cell fires his own Masenko to counter, and the two blasts clash against each other. Cell catches sight of Krillin moving in with a kick. He tilts his head, and it misses. Yamcha flies in with a punch, and Cell kicks at him, almost forgetting about the blast he is countering. Just as it begins to push Piccolo's back, Tien grapples him from behind.

"You little—"

Piccolo's attack strikes him, and Cell is smoking as he falls towards the ground. He immediately gains control of his fall and flies straight up, heading straight for Piccolo. He dodges two attacks from Tien and Yamcha, and a blast from Tien. Finally having enough of it, Cell pulls his arms close to his body before shouting, throwing them out. An intense shockwave sends everyone flying back.

Piccolo manages to block a flying knee. He and Cell exchange blows, until it's Piccolo getting battered by a series of punches. His arm is snagged, and the Namekian is thrown against a flying blast sent by Krillin. Cell charges forward in the middle of the confusion, kicking Krillin high in the air. He flies sideways and elbows Tien on the nose. He sends a crescent kick across Yamcha's face. All four fighters descend outside the ring Cell flies higher in the air.

Just before they can hit the ground, all four fighters snap open their eyes. Energy cloaks their bodies as they rocket towards their opponent.

Cell sidesteps Tien. He circles around Yamcha. He locks his hands together and slams the combined fists against Krillin's head, sending him back down. He fires a point-blank blast at Piccolo who moved in too soon. Just as the Namek falters, Krillin is back with another punch. Cell blocks and kicks him back down.

"Don't stop your attacks!" Piccolo shakes himself back into focus. "Keep going!"

From the ground, Cell is constantly dodging and pushing the fighters back. It's as if he can't catch a moment to breathe.

"Not a bad idea," Nappa comments. "They know they can't overpower him, so they are wearing him down."

Vegeta hasn't left his seat. He still has his back turned, chuckling. "Oh, sure. All they are doing is delaying the inevitable. It can only work for so long."

"Kakarot has quite a bit of faith in their abilities," Nappa says. "I don't think they are done yet."

"Kakarot can claim whatever he likes. I'll take his word for it when I see something that actually impresses me."

Kauli's face twist. "But You're not even…"

A distant explosion makes her forget her own words.

Krillin screams as he crashes into the ring.

"There it goes." Vegeta laughs.

Gine watches the conflict without a word. Maybe Vegeta has no faith, which is no surprise at all. But Gine knows there's more to what was seen before. The potential the earthlings have…

Cell kicks Yamcha away again. "You know, I don't see the appeal in humiliating yourselves time and time again, but you do you." He charges another Double Sunday and fires. Tien narrowly dodges, and Krillin is sent flying back. "I'm going to have fun playing with you fools a bit longer."

A flying disk comes from nowhere. Cell grits his teeth and spins back. It almost made contact with his arm.

Below, Krillin holds two more hovering disks above his fingertips. He's bruised and bloody, but his smile is yet to fade from his face. "Oh, trust me. We are experts with humiliation. It doesn't really sting anymore."

He sends a frenzy of the flying disks, and Cell is forced to dodge them all. The last one was too close to slicing his face. He catches a fist in each hand, belonging to Tien and Yamcha. He tightened his grip before throwing their bodies against each other. They crash and fall. He turns back to Krillin, but he's already gone.

Looking down, Tien and Yamcha are gone already?

"If you're hiding, I can still sense your energy!" Cell shouts. He immediately pins their location and looks up. He is greeted by a a frenzy of blasts falling his way. "That useless tactic again?"

He dodges them all, flying towards them. The trio of humans separate, and Cell freezes upon seeing Piccolo floating there with his two fingers pressed against his forehead.

He fires the swirling blast. "Special Beam CANNOOOOOON!"

Cell had no time to dodge. He crossed his arms over his face and takes the piercing attack head on. Slowly, it breaks through his shell. Just before it could pierce through, he turns his body, and the blast flies past.

He takes a look at his bleeding arms. Already, it's healing.

"Tch. All of that just to scratch me?" Cell looks at the fighters, but they don't say a word. "You can throw whatever you like! It won't make a difference! Can't you see?"

But, the humans smile at his words, confusing the enemy further.

"They are stubborn creatures," Gine says at last. "That might just be their best trait."

'We just have to keep going for as long as we can. It doesn't matter how many attacks this thing counters!' Tien frowns.

'What really matters is…as long as we work together…' Yamcha prepares himself.

'We can wear down Cell to give advantage to the next fighter!' Krillin slips into a fighting stance.

"You know. I think I have you figured out," Cell says, wearing an amused smile. "Right…you are trying to make me lower my guard…so that you can catch me by surprise when I least expect it. Perhaps I've been playing with you lot a bit too long. Sorry. I have too much Saiyan in me. So…it's time we shift things."

He flares his energy. The Z-Fighters and Piccolo float back.

"I'm going to wrap this up right now. You don't get the chance to be showy for a moment longer!" Cell flies forward, faster than the fighters witnessed before.

He vanished.

Krillin turns around in time to be kicked right in the face, and he is sent flying towards the ground. The hammering pain tells him Cell fractured his skull at best. But the pain also means he's still alive.

2) 'I'm still alive!' Krillin flares his energy, and it flows around his body as he stops his fall. Above, Cell has already thrown Yamcha. 'We are still alive! We won't give up, no matter how bad things get!'

-- OoOoOoOo --

Outside the time chamber, the Z-Fighters had grouped together, formulating a plan.

"We know we are going to get our asses kicked," Yamcha said. "But the whole point of the tournament isn't brute strength alone. All we need to do is lend a hand in putting an end to that monster!"

"Easier said than done. It doesn't take a genius for Cell to figure that out," Tien said. "Once he decides to stop playing around, we are done."

"Maybe we should count on that," Krillin said.

Yamcha and Tien gave Krillin a puzzled look. "What?!"

"Compared to the Saiyans, we are just playthings, right? Cell is convinced we are basically a warm-up at best. So, how about we give him what he wants?"

"You want us to get beaten to a pulp on purpose?" Tien frowned. "Are you crazy?"

Krillin waved his hands in front of him. "No. Just listen for a sec! Cell claims he's the embodiment of perfection, right? You could say he's a narcissist! A perfectionist! We just have to press the right buttons to tick him off!"

"I don't see how this is a good thing."

"Frustrate him with our poor performance. He'll gloat! You know, he's practically part Saiyan, so of course he's gonna be a show-off! He already made Raditz look bad by using his own attacks against him!"

Tien's eyes went wide. "Oh! I get it now!"

"Cell knows just about everyone's techniques, right?" Yamcha stood up. "So instead of us just trying to amplify our own, we should put our priorities on learning to counter our own attacks!"

"That's actually a pretty good idea. Nice thinking, Krillin!" Tien patted his shoulders.

"Heh. Thanks."

"We may not be as strong as those Saiyans, or Piccolo… but we still have the techniques to keep up with them. We have a whole year to develop them. Maybe we won't use everything but… it's better than nothing." Tien's eyes hardened.

"The training we had with King Kai would help, too," Yamcha agreed. "Maybe if we focus on the Kaio Ken too…"

"We also need to develop the right strategy to help each other out when his time comes. If Cell really has those Saiyan genes, we have to think like those Saiyans!"

"Heh…" Tien grinned. "And it's a good thing we know Goku. I think I know just the way to make this work!"

-- OoOoOoOo --

Cell throws Tien off him, and the fighters remain with their spirits intact. He doesn't get it. Looking at their faces that don't change…that hold so much confidence…it doesn't make any sense to him.

"What's so funny?" Cell asks Krillin, who wears a smile despite his injuries. "You are losing, and yet you wear a smile as if everything is fine! I can end this in five seconds if I truly wanted to! But no, I want to believe Goku's proposition!"

"You keep talking about us being a pushover, but I've seen nothing yet," Tien says.

"What?"

"Isn't this a tournament? The whole point is to win the round, right? You think you've already won, but that's not the case."

"Then why have you done nothing to impress me yet? Cell challenges him. He waits for an answer, but upon getting none, he laughs. "Oh, I get it. You have nothing to show. You've already did everything you possibly can! All your moves, your techniques…I know each and every one of them. So of course you have no way of overwhelming me. You just got a stroke of luck. That's all."

'That's it!' Krillin smiled. 'Fall for the bait!'

"Well, if you are truly humanity's best fighters, then it appears dear old dad was right. Your species cannot evolve any further. You don't even have a transformation, for crying out loud!"

He points at Piccolo.

"Even the Namekian has a transformation. And he just grows bigger!"

"Don't." Piccolo hardens his eyes.

"If this is truly all you have to offer, then I will have my fun humiliating you!" Cell clenches his fists close against his body. "Your unpolished techniques…I'll show you how it's properly done! I'll show you exactly why you are doomed to fail!"

'He took the bait!' Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha prepare themselves in a heartbeat.

Cell makes his move, and the fighters fly forward to counter. Within a heartbeat, they meet, and their attacks clash. Cell effortlessly blocks or evades their rapid blows around the ring. On the ground, gravel flies. In the sky, shockwaves tell those too slow to follow just where their attacks clash. Every few seconds, there is a brief pause when the Earthlings try to land a good blow, only to be struck back instead. Piccolo manages to land a kick against Cell's back, sending him forward towards Krillin, who lands a punch square on the bio-Android's chest.

Cell extends his arms and catches the ankles of Tien and Yamcha before throwing them aside. He swats Krillin aside as if he's an insect. He catches both of Piccolo's fists. Their energy clashes, sending ripples of power flowing downwards against the ring. Dust is blown away in waves as both sides fight to overpower the other. Within seconds, Piccolo finds himself getting pushed back, but he still holds his ground.

Cell smirks, and another push makes Piccolo stagger. "You're about to lose your balance."

"You should be more concerned about your surroundings!" Piccolo shots back.

Cell's smile fades as he senses Krillin flying his way. He turns to counter, but Piccolo frees his hands at the distraction, gripping Cell's arms to keep him steady. "You—"

3) Krillin throws both feet forward, kicking Cell on the back and sending him forward. Cell regains control of his flight, and he hears the air zipping behind him. He turns around in time to be slammed on the back again in the same fashion. 'What the—?'

After getting slammed for the third time, Cell knew Krillin would vanish again. He spins around to counter, but to his surprise, the fighter reappears from his previous position, kicking his backside, sending him flying once more. Annoyed, Cell tenses his body to regain mobility, and he notices a bright golden glow.

Krillin unleashes a double energy blast from both hands. Cell rockets higher to avoid it. The blast follows him like a missle.

"You think your Scattering Bullet is going to work? I know its pattern!" Cell laughs.

"Yeah! I know!"

"What?"

"Spirit Ball!"

Yamcha?!

Cell turns around in time to get slammed on the face by a bright and burning sphere of energy. He growls and swats at the sphere as it comes back to hit him again, then a third time. Just as he catches it with his bare hands, he hears Krillin again;

"You forgot something!"

Cell looks up. Krillin's previous attack had already split, and it rains down on Cell in an angry barrage. Just as he is struck with one, another slams down against his body. Cell's surprised screams can be overheard in the repeating explosions. He had enough, throwing out his arms to redirect what was remaining off his body. He catches sight of Tien moving in from the corner of his eyes.

"Here we go!" Tien spreads his fingers, positioning them near the temples of his head. He squeezes his eyes shut.

"Very cute effort!" Cell shuts his own eyes.

"Of course he knows that one!" Raditz scolds them. "What are you doing?!"

Tien grins and drops from where he is positioned, revealing Yamcha, illuminated by blue light, charging a sphere of condensed energy near his flank.

"KAMEHAMEHA!"

"What?!" Cell opens his eyes, and the blue blast strikes him head-on, sending him back along with its gruesome momentum.

"Yes!" Tien pumps a fist.

"A fake-out?!" Cell grunts as he fights against the blast. "How annoying….!"

"Over here!" Krillin calls from above.

Cell looks up. "No way!"

"And now for a real SOLAR FLARE!"

Unable to shield his eyes due to his hands acting as a shield, Cell screams as he is blinded. Krillin flies off to Yamcha's side while the enemy is distracted, charging his own Kamehameha before firing to add on to Yamcha's.

"And now…!" Tien drops by the duo as he charges his own. "Make it times three! HAAAAAAAAA!"

"D-damn it…!" Cell finds his feet digging into the ring no longer. It's instead plowing through it, leaving behind a deep trail. "No…! Don't tell me…!" He blinks, trying to regain his sight.

Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien plant their feet as they keep the Kamehameha Wave going. They scream together as they push in more energy. Another pulse, and the blast doubles in size.

"Whoa. They really are working together…" Karot is impressed.

Kakarot nods. It seems the Humans still know how to hold their own. And to his surprise, Vegeta is watching from the corner of his eye.

"Wait a second…!" Gine stands at last, leaving Trunks alone on the ground. "Now I see what they are doing! They are pushing him out of the ring!"

She isn't wrong. Cell is nearing the edge with every second. But he didn't miss what Gine said. He growls as he stomps through the ground for a heavier anchor, but even that won't hold long.

Piccolo drops by Cell's side just as he regains his vision. The bio-Android only had time to register his arrival before the Namekian fires lasers from his eyes. They pierce through Cell's knees, and he buckles under the pain. The Kamehameha blast overwhelms him, and takes his entire body. It continues to fly onward and beyond the ring, vanishing as far as the eye can see.

"Do you…think it got him?" Nappa isn't sure himself. He stares at the thick cloud of dust, waiting for any sign of anything…

"Hah…hah…" Yamcha lowers his trembling hands as he shuts his eyes. "Hah…a Spirit Ball and Kamehameha Wave back to back…not the greatest idea without a moment to breathe in-between…"

"Pull yourself together, Yamcha." Tien is focused. "It would be nice if that monster got blown out of the ring, but knowing our luck…"

"Really…? Can't be…" Krillin fights to catch his breath. He put so much energy into that blast in hopes to knock Cell away. But if that doesn't work….

The dust cleared enough for everyone to see the result.

Cell is nowhere to be found.

"Uh-oh. Where did he go?" Krillin steps back before he turns his head in many directions, searching for his opponent. "Either he actually got taken out or…he's hiding somewhere…!"

Yamcha and Tien are also searching, but there seems to be no sign of him.

The tiles burst from the ground near Piccolo's feet. A hand shoots out and snatches Piccolo's arm. Cell lunges from underground and lands on the surface. His scorched wings rest against his back as they slowly heal.

"What?!" Piccolo tries to pull free, but there is no change.

"Hah…good. Looks like I didn't forget how to borrow when necessary…" Cell chuckles. "Not fond of it. I had enough of that for three years."

"How did he—that should be against the rules!" Yamcha points a finger at Cell. "Going underground makes you left the ring! You lost, Cell!"

Cell laughs. "I lost? The rules state that it's a ring-out if I fall out of bounds. If I remember correctly, digging inside the ring doesn't count as long as I don't dig all the way through it. I merely hid within the ring's interior until it was safe to resurface. I think that abides by the rules just fine."

"I…" Tien growls. "I can't believe it…!"

Nappa frowns. "He couldn't find any other way out, so he hid underground. Even I wouldn't have thought of that. Is there anything that thing can't do?"

"Tch…" Vegeta sends a glare to Gine. "Had you kept your big mouth shut, that insect would have never thought of digging straight down!"

"It's not like I anticipated it!" Gine counters. "Besides! I thought you would have liked for him to stay in the ring, since you so badly desire a rematch!"

Vegeta seems ready to scold her, but one look at Broly gives him second thoughts. He almost forgot the Saiyan was there. He was so quiet, watching the entire time without doing as much as budging.

It's a wonder what the Saiyan could be thinking…

"Man. This Cell guy is tough! We put so much energy into that Triple Kamehameha!" Krillin shakes his head, feeling his mind clouding with disbelief. "All of that, and all we managed to do was char his wings! It's like he is made from the toughest material in the universe!"

"I don't think we can pull that off again," Tien said. "We just got the opening because he didn't expect it. Now he's just going to be more cautious."

"I was really counting on that ring-out…" Yamcha swallows a nervous lump in his throat. "But…it's not like…"

"Yeah. That's not everything…" Krillin forces a smile to try to loosen the air of unease.

"I will recognize your efforts," Cell says. "You almost had me there. But almost…simply isn't good enough."

Piccolo throws a punch at Cell with his free hand, but it is also caught.

A sinister grin crosses his face.

"Do you want to see something neat?"

Piccolo's eyes widen as Cell tightens his grip on his fists. He twists both wrists as if they are doorknobs. The Namekian screams and tries to pull free. Cell releases one hand, before throwing a gut punch that lifts Piccolo from the ground with bulging eyes. He releases him to the ground just in time to block a flying kick delivered from Krillin.

"Oh right. I was supposed to be teaching you." Cell taps his chin with his other hand. He maneuvers his arm acting as a shield, and he grips Krillin's leg. Lifting his other hand above his head, a ring of zapping energy climbs up his forearm and gathers above the palm into the shape of a disk. "See? It's a guaranteed hit if your target CAN'T MOVE!" Cell throws the disk directly at Krillin.

"That idiot! He's dead!" Turles growls.

'Can't be….!' Krillin can't bring himself to move!

-- OoOoOoOo --

"And just like that, you're broken and lifeless on the ground."

Piccolo's disapproving voice made Krillin shudder as the Namekian lifted his foot off his back. Once he realized no harm would come to him, he got to his feet and dusted himself off.

"That's the fifth time I killed you in two minutes," Piccolo said as he crossed his arms. "Pathetic!"

"It's not like I'm dying on purpose!" Krillin shouted. "I'm trying my best, you know? This isn't something I can get better at overnight!"

"I'm not talking about that!" Piccolo snapped at him. "You can't expect to improve if you keep hesitating and shrinking whenever things get bad for you! Go with it, or you might as well forget about everything else!"

Krillin lowered his head. He didn't know what to say to that.

"You're terrified. Constantly."

"That's not…"

"Even though my father didn't directly kill you, you still look at me as if I did," Piccolo said.

Krillin gulped.

"That's good. That's just the very thing you need to work on."

"Eh…?" Krillin didn't expect that. He was prepared for another scolding…to be belittled just for experiencing such fear.

"Fear will lead you to making rash decisions. One of those things would be you becoming completely frozen and unable to act. In the middle of a fight, that's the worst place for that to happen," Piccolo said. "So it's time for you to conquer them. You and I both know Cell has a part of me in there, so there is no doubt he has my tricks up his sleeves. That's why I'll come at you with everything I've got!"

Krillin took a step back. "Wh-what…?"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you. We do need you alive," Piccolo said. "But that doesn't mean I'll be holding anything else back! If you don't come at me with malicious intent, then forget about the tournament! You've already thrown your life away! This time, there won't be any coming back!"

Krillin stared at him for several seconds, and he gathered his confidence with a firm nod. "Ok! Besides…it won't just be me out there anyway. I have all my friends to back me up!"

He made the lunge, and his attack was blocked. The pair exchange blows as they move throughout the void of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Krillin was effortlessly battered across his body. He crashed on the ground, but he kicked himself back to his feet.

"Here's the thing, Piccolo. Even if it's not enough, there is something we learned while training with King Kai, and I think it's just the handicap we need to wear him down if it doesn't kill him!"

"Is that so?" Piccolo huffed as he prepared to attack again. "And what would that be?"

"Heh…" Krillin grinned. "If I use it against you, it might just kill you."

"What…?"

Krillin lunged forward. "But don't worry. We need you alive too! If things get bad…then all of this training…it will pay off! I'm sure of it! I won't give up!"

-- OoOoOoOo --

'That's right…. I'm not afraid. My friends are right behind me!'

Krillin tilts his head and catches the disk using the tips of his fingers. He redirects it at the surprised Cell, and it slices clean through his neck instead.

"HUH?!" Everyone watching from the sidelines freeze.

Cell's headless body falls to the ground. His head bounces across the ring, rolling to a stop at the edge of the ring.

"Eugh!" Krillin shakes Cell's limp hand off his leg and takes several steps back. Disgust is written all over his face, but he is quick to pull himself together as he turns to his allies. "Now, guys! Before he regenerates!"

"Right!" Tien rushes in, and he grabs Cell by the arms before sprinting for the edge of the ring.

"That's it!" Kakarot almost laughs.

"Seriously?!" Raditz exclaims.

"He might just do it!" Kauli cheers.

Just a few more lunges from the ring!

And Tien is kicked on the ankles.

He loses his balance, and the tips of his toes touch the edge of the ring as he hops backwards with falling arms. He falls on his rear, and his eyes follow the headless creature as it rises to its feet. "That's impossible….!"

The headless Cell throws another kick, treating Tien as a ball as he arches high in the air and crashes in the middle of the ring.

"Tchhh! Ow…" Tien hisses as he grabs his chin. His allies are quick to assist, but he brushes them off as he climbs to his own feet. "I guess I should have seen that coming. Even with that anticipation, I wasn't quick enough!"

"Hey are you uh…ok?" Kakarot notices Turles on the ground. He looks close to vomiting where he lays.

Cell's neck begins to swell, and in an instant, a brand new head shoots out. He wipes the blood clean, glancing at his hand to survey the damage.

"That was rude." Cell finally looks at Krillin, who is shaken by his fast recovery. "That move would have killed Vegeta."

The bystanders are surprised to hear this, but Vegeta is insulted.

"Well, well. Consider me impressed, little Human. You and your friends were the first to actually put pressure on me. I don't really know how to feel about that. A part of me wants to be angry for lowering my guard…but another part of me can't help but admire your capabilities."

He claps his hands, chuckling small.

"Bravo! You managed to do more than the future kid! What a feat!"

"I…can't tell if he is mocking us or not," Krillin says.

"At the rate things are going…I don't wish for the fun to be interrupted by an unwanted ring out." Cell taps his chin as he studies each fighter. He appears to be deep in thought for a brief moment. "It's easier for you to lunge at one main target, isn't it?"

He aims a single finger towards his old head, and he fires right at it. It instantly disintegrates into a pile of smoking ashes.

Raising his finger, Cell turns to his opponents. "How about we make things even?"

"...what?" Yamcha tilts his head.

Cell smiles as he lowers his hand to his side. Immediately, he pulls his elbows close against his body as he takes in a sharp breath. His muscles appear to tense from a strain that can't quite be pinned down. His body starts to glow, and he begins to double.

No. Triple…?

Quadruple?!

"H…hey. Tien…?" Yamcha calls his friend with a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah. Your eyes aren't seeing things…" Tien huffs. His frown forms into a small smile. "That's my technique alright."

"Just great," Krillin says. "Now things just got annoying…"

"What the…?" Piccolo takes a step back as four Cells stand tall, laughing as they each face a fighter.

"No way!" Kakarot exclaims, startling those closest to him. "I didn't think Cell would resort to this! But duh! Of course he would if he's part Tien!"

"You're telling me the cyclops is capable of doing that?!" Vegeta is in disbelief. "That…that freak of nature just split himself into four!"

"This is bad!" Kauli grips her head. "If the fight isn't already bad as is!"

But Kakarot chuckles at this. Everyone standing in the sidelines look at him as if he grew a second head.

"You can't be serious!" Raditz scolds his brother. "You see what we are seeing, don't you? The situation just got a lot more bleak, and you're fine with this?"

"It's…it's not just Kakarot." Turles still has his eyes on the fight. "What is with these Earthlings? I don't get what's so funny?"

"Ready…?" Krillin tightens his stance, and the others follow.

All eight fighters vanish from thin air. A loud boom above follows suit. The Z-Fighters and Piccolo threw a punch at their respective Cell, and they were all blocked. They begin to clash, throwing rapid punches and kicks around the ring. The activity has doubled as if it was a battle royale. They scatter and clash again. More booms in the air. Shockwave after shockwave as the fighters vanish and reappear in several locations around the ring.

Karot watches them scatter and lunge. Piccolo flies backwards as he blocks to the best of his ability. Yamcha and Tien have incredible reflexes. Krillin is keeping up the assault. "Looks like they are keeping up somehow. It's nothing like how it was five years ago."

"What a change of pace," Gine says. Her eyes follow Piccolo, he dodges a punch that buries deep into the ring. He begins to batter Cell with a frenzy of attacks. "It appears they are reading him better."

"No. That's not it." Tarble's voice catches their attention. His eyes are shifting, as if they are following their movements somehow. Or perhaps…he is that concentrated. His very expression is calm and focused.

"What do you mean?" Kauli asks him. "They have clearly adapted."

"That ability has a massive drawback," Kakarot says. "Sure, there are more Cells, but he has to divide his strength and speed during the split as well."

"Wait…so that means…" Raditz blinks. "That makes it easier to deal with him!"

"That's great! Right?" Gine isn't so sure herself. "If that's the case, why would he sacrifice his strength to do that?"

"I don't think he fully comprehends the sacrifices behind these techniques," Tarble says. "He inherited our abilities, sure. But I doubt he understands them to the core. You could say this is quite similar to what happened on Planet Namek, wouldn't you say, Raditz?"

Raditz is alert. "Planet Namek?"

"When Ginyu stole your body."

"Ew." Raditz shivers. "Yeah. I remember that. It was nothing but torture. Sure. He had a stronger body, but his mind isn't in sync with it."

"I remember Kakarot saying something like that," Nappa says. "So this means…sure. Cell can be as fancy as he wants with these attacks but…"

"Only the masters can bring out its full potential." Kakarot chuckles. "That's why I am convinced."

Krillin blocks two blows before retaliating with an axe kick that throws Cell's head back. He pushes forward, his leg moving in a blur as he strikes Cell's chest in a barrage before the final blow sends him back. Flipping backwards for distance, he lands, and forms a pair of Destructo Disks before throwing them both. They buzz towards Cell, who leaps to avoid them both. More fly, and Cell dodges them as they fly at him in a constant assault.

"Come on! Can't you do something far more original than spamming the same attack?" Cell shouts. "It almost never works!"

But Krillin ignores him and keeps the attacks going.

Meanwhile, Tien is busy with his own personal Cell. He grabs Cell's fist and redirects the attack before elbowing the bio-Android in the chest. He side-steps to avoid another punch and grapples his arm, throwing Cell over his shoulder and slamming him to the ground.

Cell fires a Dodon Ray. Tien dodges before firing his own. Cell narrowly dodges. The two lock into battle again, only Tien is the one receiving a number of punches.

Yamcha is having the most trouble with his Cell. He nearly fails dodging in several attempts, but he is finally caught. His body is pushed back with every nasty blow that connects against his head. He can't even scream properly, as he is punched in the throat. He grips his neck, which leaves him wide open to having a fist sink below his ribs. He can't do as much as wheeze as he falls to the ground.

"This is far less tedious, don't you agree?" Cell slams his foot down against Yamcha's chest. The fighter has his mouth wide open, but no sound escapes. "No Krillin or Tien getting in the way. It's just you and me. Although, it looks like your time is running out fast. Typical."

Yamcha grits his teeth as he lifts his head, but it's kicked back down to the ground.

"Hm. I don't think it's worth killing you either. Not because I'm disappointed or anything, but it just isn't worth it. You're no fun, even with my power restrained like this—did you know my power is restrained? Does it even make a difference to you?"

Yamcha tries to choke out a response, but Cell presses his foot harder against his ribs.

"I still stand by what I said when you are, by far, the most interesting version of Yamcha I've ever come across. Although…you're like…the second one. But that doesn't matter. You're still a Yamcha at the end of the day. I guess you could take a little pride that you survived longer than your counterpart."

He steps off the fighter and swings his foot back.

"Goodbye, Yamcha."

Yamcha growls and thrusts two fingers forward, firing a quick blast that strikes Cell directly on his right eye. The scream he is rewarded with makes him almost laugh.

Cell staggers back, gripping the right side of his bleeding face. "AAGH! What's with you Humans attacking the eyes…!"

Yamcha lunges to his hands and sweeps his legs, knocking Cell to the ground. He performs several backflips for distance, and he lands. But, it wasn't painless. The stabbing sensation in his ribs is a reminder of what condition he's currently in.

But still, he wears that determined smile.

" Just a Yamcha, huh? That's all I am to you?" Yamcha rubs his chin as he keeps a close eye on his opponent. "Yeah. I get it. That's how everyone sees me, huh? I'm only good at fighting when I'm with my pals. Let me fight by myself, and it's all over, huh? I'm not worth anyone's time. Just a joke. I've heard it all."

He chuckles.

"Well, those words don't bother me. I know my own limitations. Me trying…you could say it's pointless but…that's just how you see it. Yeah. My life's a joke. My girlfriend dumped me, I got killed by a petty blast, and now I find out some supernatural baby is the son of my enemy, the son of my girlfriend. Go ahead and laugh. I'm already upset. But you know what you can't laugh at, Cell? It's my determination to keep going. I already accepted there is no way I can beat you a long time ago. But that doesn't give you any reason to see me as nothing! You shouldn't underestimate Humans!"

Cell lowers his hand from his healing eye. He cracks a teasing smile and laughs. "Alright. Fine. Come at me with anything. Prove to me that humanity—no—you yourself… is no laughing stock. Just don't humiliate yourself. Everyone is watching."

"I'm counting on that."

Yamcha rolls the top of his gi down to his waist, and he slips his arms underneath the deep blue t-shirt that was underneath. He pushes it over his shoulders.

"Well, alright. I guess if you want to get more comfortable before I kick you out the ring." Cell shrugs. His nonchalant stance changes the second the blue shirt sinks through the ground.

Yamcha's wristbands crash down, cracking the stage. It's followed by his heavy boots that are almost like sledgehammers.

"Ho?" Tarble leans closer. "Doesn't sound like fighting. What's going on over there?"

"Makes sense. Kakarot has to get the idea from somewhere," Turles says. "His clothing is weighed."

"Come again?"

"It's about to get very interesting," Kakarot says. "It's possible that shirt could weigh more than 200 kilos."

Raditz is impressed. "Is that so…? And they were fighting like this the entire time…even in the time chamber…? Well…I'll be…"

Slipping his gi back over his shoulders, Yamcha stretches his arms and bends his legs to touch his toes, bouncing back and forth for a quick warm-up.

"Feeling better now?" Cell asks him. His eyebrow is raised. It could be a genuine question.

Yamcha stretches his fingers before he shifts his feet. He closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath.

He only has one shot…and a small window to pull it off. He can't afford to give Cell a moment to breathe once he begins. But, what he is up against is a monster. Even if he's only using a quarter of his strength…

A monster created by people who abandoned their humanity. People who shouldn't be called humans at all.

But that includes…that also includes Bulma.

'This world…turned so many people into…'

The thought makes him feel a wave of heated anger. He just noticed it, but that scorching sensation…it hasn't settled since the beginning of the fight. It just keeps growing worse.

He just has to pin all of it against Cell.

He takes in another deep breath. He speaks slowly…carefully…

"Sometimes. The best way to beat a beast, is to turn into one."

"I'm sorry?" Cell tilts his head. "I thought junior high school was years ago!"

Yamcha ignores the jab. Taking in another deep breath, the air around him bursts. His energy engulfs him, flowing wildly. Yamcha bends his knees as he leans back, all while hooking his fingers like claws. Opening his eyes, his lips curl back as he wears an unusual snarl. "Now…"

He takes off in a sprint, charging straight for the unamused opponent. His speed picks up, sounding almost like a gallop. For just a split second, the form of a snarling wolf replaced Yamcha.

"What…?" Kauli blinks. "What kind of—?'

4) "Neo Wolf Fang FIST!" Yamcha shouts, lunging from the ground. His takeoff was the fastest it ever was, leaving behind a cloud shaped like a savage wolf.

'He got a lot faster!' Cell pins down Yamcha's energy and turns to counter him. Instead, his face is met with a crescent kick, throwing him off balance.

The blow was harder than he anticipated.

Yamcha strikes the bio-Android across the face with a clawed palm strike, followed by another. It turns into a frenzy, relentless and heavy as his arms move in a blur. His eyes are locked on and wild as he pushes the assault further, like a wild beast.

Cell throws a punch. Yamcha's hooked fingers grip Cell's forearm with such menacing bites, striking the pressure points, climbing its way up to his shoulder. Cell staggers, Yamcha pulls both arms back, connecting them at the wrists. He thrusts them forward, his shout sounding more like a howl.

A roaring wolf lunges, and Cell is struck square against his chest. He topples out of the ring.

"He actually did something?" Nappa asks the question the others were probably thinking.

The moment Cell hits the ground, his body fades from existence.

"Incredible…did any of you catch that?" Gine asks.

Kakarot catches Yamcha's eyes for just a brief second. From that small contact alone, he felt resentment. But whether or not it was directed at him, or Raditz…or perhaps even Cell…he can't pin it down. All he can conclude is that Yamcha was perhaps using it as fuel to give him motivation to keep fighting.

Such a dangerous motivation…Kakarot is all too familiar with it.

"That makes three left." Yamcha turns to the active scene. "Which means Cell just got a little of his strength back…"

"Not a bad idea, Yamcha!" Krillin lunges and performs a frenzy of ki blasts that rain down on the stage again. Cell below grumbles something about how overdone and annoying the tactic is going, but Krillin isn't hoping for it to land.

It seems Tien has the same idea.

Both in the air, they shed their weighted clothing. Upon landing, Krillin chuckles as he bounces on his toes before slipping into a fighting stance. Cell attacks—faster now—but his fist phases through an afterimage instead. Cell takes a step back and looks around in time to see multiple copies of Krillin circling around his body.

"More pesky tricks?" Cell gathers energy to one hand. "You actually think I don't know what this is?!" He swings his arm, unleashing the blast that rips through the circle. The real Krillin is nowhere to be seen. "I can still find you, no matter where you try to hide!"

The other Cell backs against him, and they face each other, almost blasting each other.

"Wait! That's you!" The first Cell says.

"Did you see Krillin anywhere?" The second one asks.

"No? You?"

"Tien?"

"He's gone too?"

Both Cells glare at the sky, but their targets are nowhere to be seen. Even following the energy signal, all it leads to is…

"This isn't going to work." The first Cell glares at the other.

"It looks like we are throwing each other off by being too close. Your energy feels just like Krillin's!"

"Just focus on a single source! Find the signal that is true to itself!"

They both close their eyes to drown out distractions. The energy signals they are sensing are scrambled. Kakarot… Karot… Gine… Tarble…

It doesn't help the other Cells make it more difficult to pin it down. It doesn't help especially that…

"Tch. The humans are too weak to single out!" The second Cell exclaims.

Another flurry of Destructo Disks?!

"Come on! This is getting repetitive! What's the point of this!" Both Cells send their own to counter it as they jump around the ring to dodge the lethal slices.

Just as a cluster breaks apart, Krillin and Tien dive down with a Kamehameha and Dodon Ray respectively. They fire. The Cells lunge back. They fire again. They near the edge of the ring.

"You think that will work twice?!" The first Cell laughs.

"No." Krillin waves.

"So why are you—"

The floor gives in beneath both Cell's feet, revealing a circular slice as the culprit. Both human fighters rocket down and kick both Cells back while they were distracted by the surprise.

They both hit the ground. They both vanish.

Krillin and Tien land on the ravaged ring. They give each other a thumbs up before turning towards the final Cell, who is occupied by Piccolo. Now that he's back to full strength, Piccolo finds himself in trouble again.

"Are you ready? It's back to how it was from the start," Krillin says.

"I'll be honest. It was somewhat easier when there were four of him," Tien says. He hears Yamcha's footsteps. "Took you long enough. Are…are you alright?"

Yamcha notices he's been staring at his hands for too long. Meeting Tien's worried eyes, he gives his ally an assuring smile. He gives Krillin a single nod. "Never better. I see you two handled yourselves well."

"Yeah but, I think we are running low on tactics here," Tien says. "We will have to make this quick before Cell catches on just how exhausted we are."

"So, it's not just me." Krillin turns to the fight. "It's about time we jump in one more time! Ready guys?"

"Yeah! Let's do this!" Yamcha shouts.

The Z-Fighters unleash their energy in a mighty flare. The air around them skyrockets as an aggressive gust, drawing Cell's attention just enough to be suckered-punch across the face by Piccolo. He grabs the Namekian by the head and throws him off.

"So this is your final showdown?" Cell leaps a good distance away. "You've managed to catch me by surprise…but it's obvious to me you're out of tricks! So what else do you have?! What possibly else?!"

The trio of fighters soar forward, all screaming. They divide into three different directions, circling around Cell while unleashing a frenzy of energy attacks once more.

Cell throws out an arm to the side. "Like, seriously! There's a thin line between bravery and stupidity, but all I'm seeing here is depressing desperation! Don't you know the definition of insanity?"

"YES!" They all shout.

"Then why do you—"

Piccolo has joined the fray, adding his own frenzy of yellow blasts, despite his fatigue. Cell lunges from the ground, rocketing to the skies. The combination of attacks batter the ground or crash against each other in a relentless series of explosions. Cell rapidly changes his course, easily avoiding each attack with ease.

"Okay Kakarot. I'm starting to see where you got your stupid." Raditz is no longer impressed. "What is this? Like…the fourth…fifth time? I've lost count."

"It's beginning to feel like a filler episode," Kauli says. "I hate to agree with Cell, but why? I don't see the point?"

Kakarot doesn't appear to be bothered by the display, but even he is quite puzzled by their efforts.

Cell continues to dance and dart around the annoyance. The humans are no longer firing, but the Namekian continues to be stubborn. To make matters worse, Cell takes notice that the frenzy whizz past him, never once hitting him. "You realize your aim is terrible, right? You're missing worse than a person would blindfolded. Are you even trying to hit me?"

"No!" Piccolo shouts.

"What…? That doesn't make any sense! Why would—" Cell pauses, noticing the firing had stopped. Yellow light illuminates his body from all angles. He takes a look around, seeing the floating spheres that have surrounded him. "That's new."

Piccolo throws his hands down. "HELLZONE GERNADE!"

The cluster brightens and shoots down at Cell all at once, engulfing him in a massive explosion.

The fighters regroup and brace themselves as the smoke settles, revealing a very bruised up and stunned Cell. If he hadn't guarded, it was safe to say he would have taken a lot more damage. Whatever Piccolo did…it did more than sting.

But still…

"All that preparation, and it's still not enough…" Piccolo grumbles.

Cell takes a good long look at the fighters he believed should had been easy to take care of from the start. He made a mistake underestimating him. Of course they have tactics to make up for their lack of battle power. He should have seen it coming…but he was confident they wouldn't last two minutes.

Which side of him made such a foolish assumption?

Doesn't matter. Far too many times was he close to getting knocked out of the ring. He can't determine if the multi-form technique helped him or not, considering they were casted aside but…

Just looking at them…they really think they can take on the world?

Even Yamcha held his ground!

Even Yamcha!

…

Yamcha is back in his fighting stance, waiting patiently for anything to happen. He can see Cell's twisted expression. He can't determine if it's due to confusion or frustration…maybe both. He almost wants to tease him for it. But, he knows it's best not to. He doesn't want to accidentally trigger a side of Cell that could be difficult to deal with on top of what they have to face already.

For what reason Cell hasn't attacked yet at this point, Yamcha can only guess it's due to caution. It's unbelievable that someone as strong as Cell is actually being careful about his next move. But, it makes sense. After what they displayed, Yamcha would be careful, too.

"…not bad." Cell finally says something. He lowers his arms and stands tall as his body repairs itself once more. "I should congratulate all of you. You've managed to surprise me! Makes me wonder were all this ambition came from. What drives you to fight this hard when this world is in such a bleak state?"

"That's exactly why we are fighting," Krillin says. "Once you are out the way…we are going to work together to repair Earth from all the damage that was done!"

Cell stares for a second, and he bursts into laughter. It can be heard echoing around the field as everyone remains quiet, confused or annoyed with his response. Cell has to take a deep breath to hold himself together. "R-repair Earth? You can't be serious!"

"I don't see what's so funny," Tien says.

"Don't tell me I have to state it plain and obvious! You're smarter than that!" Cell says. "I mean, come on! Take a good look around you! Repair Earth? How would that be possible when the Namekian right there desires nothing more than to complete his conquest? And don't get me started on the Saiyans! They were the ones who brought this world to its sad and defective state in the first place!"

Maybe Cell is right. To repair such damage would take years…perhaps even a lifetime or more. But, it's just the beginning. Yamcha can't stand the Saiyans, but it was just recently when they realized they have no reason to torment humanity anymore…right? But Piccolo, he's far more difficult to read and understand. He can't get an idea on what could be going through his mind.

"You know, I do envy your ability to look at such a hopeless situation and still find the tiniest ray of light in the darkness," Cell says. "But I'm afraid it can only preserve your minds for so long. You can fight as hard as you like, but it will never change anything. You will never gain your old lives back. Those days are through. Your friends and family are dead, or they turned against you. Or perhaps…they can care less about your very existence all together."

Yamcha felt chills. Cell is looking directly at him.

"Such a sad position you find yourself in, Yamcha. It appears that Miss Bulma could care less about your existence all together!"

Yamcha frowns. "I'm aware of that."

"Yes, I know. You said it yourself that such things don't bother you. But clearly, it hurts like hell for you to know what happened to her. Between you failing to save her…to her being forced to work for these Saiyans you've teamed up with—didn't one of them steal her from you? And now you're irrelevant to her! Did you know that she and Raditz already spoke to each other recently?"

'What?'

Raditz goes stiff as he feels several eyes on him. How did he know? He couldn't possibly be there! Was there some sort of camera that he missed? He had forgotten the cursed planet was littered with them!

"Wait. This isn't a lie?" Tarble sends a glare towards Raditz. "You're telling me you actually spoke to her? And you've said nothing to confirm her existence to us upon your return?"

"We are in this mess because you played around with her for too long!" Vegeta scolds him. "And you have the nerve to do it again, while she is a bigger problem?!"

"Oh, wow. I just tossed that one out there." Cell's statement earns him a growl from Raditz. "Hah! I didn't think you would make such a repeat in history, Raditz! I guess my words were a stroke of luck! Does this mean future boy here won't be the only child? I didn't see anyone else, so maybe he's the only one. Or maybe his sibling died, and he didn't want to talk about it!"

The mentioned Trunks is still unconscious. Perhaps it's a good thing he isn't hearing all of this. He's already stressed as is.

"Quiet, you!" Raditz shouts. "Nothing happened, okay?!"

"Oh, but I'm sure the last time you made such a claim, the end result was the future." Cell laughs at his own joke. "Although, if this is your way of keeping her out of trouble, Raditz, then that is a twisted tactic, even coming from someone like you. Do you plan on seeing her again if you survive this somehow? You don't have to lie. We all know you don't have the heart to kill her. Kakarot had to do that for you."

"Shut up…" Raditz snarls.

"What even is this group?" Cell takes a look at every present fighter. "For a moment, I believed by some miracle, you set aside your differences to face me. But it's such an unrealistic expectation! There is absolutely no way you could push away your animosity like that. You just had to suppress it to focus on me. That little show before this second round only confirms it. I can't help but feel sorry for poor Yamcha. He's just trying to exist, and you constantly stomp down on whatever bits of hope he has left!"

Cell's laughter rings in the air.

"Tch. He really likes to hear himself talk," Piccolo says. "It's about time we wrap this up! No more stalling!" He turns to the human fighters to say more, but confusion crosses his face instead.

It's easy to see why.

"Uh…hey. Buddy?" Krillin speaks up.

Yamcha looks very pissed.

"He's teasing him!" Kakarot frowns. "He's trying to throw off their coordination!"

"Bah! Damn! Don't let him do that to you!" Raditz takes a step forward. "You hear me, Earthlings?! That abomination is doing this on purpose so you can't focus! Don't let him—"

A skinny blast grazes past his face. Raditz's words are caught in his throat as blood trickles down from the fresh cut across his cheek. Had that been anything else…

He meets Yamcha's eyes. The amount of disgust and hatred written all over his face catches him off guard. The human lowers his two fingers, not caring about the attention he has drawn to himself.

"Y-Yamcha…?" Krillin takes a cautious step back.

Yamcha chuckled…but it didn't sound natural. It was strained. Seething.

"You know what, Cell…you really do make a good point. Why are we working together to take you on…when we have so much to hate about each other? It's something I've been wondering ever since we made this temporary alliance. But…it makes a bit of since if you think about it. You…are the very embodiment of everything I hate."

"Oh?" Cell is intrigued. "Is it because of how I came to be?"

"More or less. Although it has a lot more to do with the way you talk…how you just like to torment people for your own amusement. How you are more Saiyan than anything else…it just reminds me of how weak we are, how helpless we are, how we have absolutely no way…of regaining the lifestyle we once had. You're the result of the very damage these Saiyans did. The result of the very moment that monster of a Saiyan touched foot on our planet!"

"Hey! I was just doing my job!" Raditz shouts.

"Shut up! You have no reason to speak right now!" Yamcha snaps. "You're the root of all our problems, job or not! You should have never come here! You should have left us alone! So what if some evil emperor had you by the tail?! This planet was irrelevant until you reminded him of Goku's existence!"

"I'm not going to argue morality with you."

"Of course not. It's not like you're capable of understanding it anyway." Yamcha's bold words catch many by surprise, but he doesn't seem to care. "I am tired of just standing around and watching everything crumble around me. I can't stand how weak I am…! It's not fair. Why do all the bad guys get away with so much with little consequences while we drop like flies left and right?!"

"Uh…hey…" Krillin rests a hand on Yamcha's shoulder. "I get that you are angry. Trust me, I'm not happy about this either. But, this isn't a good time to lose composure. We have to focus on what's mandatory here."

Yamcha shoots him a glare. "How can you say that, like everything is going to be okay? Didn't Goku kill you?! Don't you realize it's because of that Saiyan who took everything from us?!"

Krillin didn't know what to say after that. He lowers his head, stuck on what to do.

"Yamcha. Please. Krillin has a point here." Tien frowns. "We can focus on what to do after this tournament. We can—"

"I can't believe you two. I've tried to pretend everything will be okay…but it's not. It never will be. Our lives will never be the same…and it's because we were too weak to do anything! Even right now…right now we are just acting as a canon folder! Is this really our life now…? Is it really…?"

He shuts his eyes, laughing a desperate laugh. His flowing energy wavers. And within seconds, it shifts into an eerie purple.

"That color…!" Gine's eyes went wide.

5) "I guess I'm the only one who fully understands just how screwed up things really are…everyone else is so content with this life…they are all a lost cause…"

His eyes open, almost wicked…holding such a familiar red glow.

"Th-the fog!" Turles blurts out.

Kakarot's mouth hangs open as he feels his hands touching his chest. That sensation, even if it left his body such a time ago…it's still fresh in his memory. The burning…the ringing…the whispers….!

"Fog?" Cell echoes the word as he properly turns to face Yamcha. His eyes go wide as they watch the thick flowing mist flow merged with Yamcha's energy, like an evil aura. "Oh…? Have I seen this before? Things just got very interesting! Is this a new technique you've come up with, Yamcha? Seems a bit too tense for someone like y—"

"Nǐ sǐle hěnjiǔ…"

Cell freezes. The Z-Fighters freeze. Kakarot and Karot exchange worried glances.

"Uh…can someone translate?" Kauli asks.

"I…I'm sorry?" Cell's surprise morphs into laughter. "Did…did you just say that I am already—"

His chest swells and, and the lump climbs up his throat before he coughs out a lungful of deep purple blood that paints the grass between his feet. Cell staggers back, his mouth agape in disbelief before it clamps shut into a heavy snarl.

"What…did you do….?"

"Y-yeah. Good question…" Tien steps back, staring at Yamcha as if he just committed the worst crime imaginable. "I don't remember you ever showing me that attack during training. When did you…?"

"How did he…do that…?" Krillin blinks.

Yamcha's lips part into a toothy grin as he lifts both hands, revealing them to be cloaked with intense energy.

'Is that…?' Kakarot's eyes widened. 'Of course! When he used his Wolf Fang Fist earlier…! It looked mostly normal…but his attacks were more feral than normal. And it's not just that…no. If I remember right, back then I was trapped in that fog…it…the amount of energy it gave my body…!'

The more bloodshed….the more…

No!

"It's the DEMON!" Kakarot exclaims, frustrated with their ignorance. "Youzi is behind this! Stop it, before that thing kills him!"

"What?!" Tien gasped.

"WHAT?!" Everyone is alert now.

"Oh?" Cell is intrigued, but also reasonably annoyed. "Well then…for a second there I thought the humans were becoming relevant. Turns out one of them just had a little HELP!" He thrusted his hand forward, unleashing a fast energy blast towards the possessed fighter.

Yamcha lunges high in the air, dodging the blast with ease. He flips towards the ground, and the second his feet make contact with the stage, he makes the lunge at Cell. His speed catches the bio-Android off guard as he strikes him with a clawed strike. It's followed by several other feral attacks that Cell appears to be unable to read.

How could it be read? It doesn't appear to be any style Cell is familiar with! It's not in the programming!

Even Cell appears somewhat disturbed by Yamcha's change of attitude. The human is grinning ear to ear, ignoring every blow he receives. Cell punches him on the gut, which would leave anyone else winded, but Yamcha releases a strained laugh instead. He grips Cell's head, and unleashes a point-blank blast.

"AGH! NOT AGAIN!" Cell grips his face as he stumbles. "My eyes! Damn it…!"

Yamcha forms a Spirit Ball in a heartbeat as he snatches Cell's chin with his free hand. He shoves the sphere inside his mouth before lunging back.

He flicks his fingers down, and the glow could be seen expanding inside Cell's chest. He tries to beat it out, but a muffled explosion inside makes him freeze. Cell in an instant coughs out a lungful of smoke, followed by more blood as he comes close to dropping to his knees. He can't seem to speak or breathe, as his organs had been ruptured from the inside.

"How did he…do…that….?" Krillin is mortified by what he just witnessed. He is further frightened as Yamcha lunges over his head and rockets from the stage, away from Cell. "H-hey! Wait!"

Yamcha is soaring right at Raditz!

"You can't be serious!" Raditz gets in a defensive stance. "I'm not your enemy, dumbass!"

"He can't hear you!" Kakarot shouts. "I know! I was there! All he can hear now are that demon's encouraging words to kill you!"

"You're kidding!"

A stray blast from nowhere strikes Yamcha on the flank, sending him off course and falling towards the ground. Before anyone could register where it came from, Piccolo zips around the falling fighter and sends an axe kick to send him flying back, and falling back in the ring.

"Nice….save?" Krillin is stunned.

"Don't just stand there!" Piccolo snaps. "Expel that thing! It clearly won't stop until someone or the host dies!"

"H-how do we do that?!" Krillin is almost panicked, especially once he sees Cell is slowly getting back to his feet.

"The demon doesn't like electricity!" Kakarot shouts. "You're going to have to electrocute him!"

"What did he just say…?" Krillin gawked.

"It's not like we have anyone else to reference!" Piccolo's hand is engulfed with white lighting bolts in an instant. "There can only be one Demon King, and it's not going to be this sorry excuse of a leech!"

Yamcha's red eyes open, flaring with intense rage as he makes a lunge. Piccolo unleashes the bolts with a scream. Yamcha is caught by them midair, screaming as his muscles become locked in the lighting assault.

Cell just got a sense of what was happening around him. His face twists in confusion as he witnesses the Namekian apparently turning against his own teammate.

Unable to move, Yamcha is suspended in the air as his hair stands on end. Piccolo pushes more effort into the attack, and it swallows Yamcha in a blinding light. The Z-Fighter's screams are almost horrifying to listen to. He's in so much pain.

Tien is winching at what he is witnessing. "I don't think he can take anymore of this, Piccolo!'

"You're going to kill him!" Krillin panics. "Stop! That's enough!"

"No! Keep going!" Kakarot shouts. Everyone looks at him as if he lost his mind. "I know Yamcha's body is not that weak! He can take it! Don't you let up, Piccolo!"

Karot's eyes are wide at what he is seeing. He grips his arm, all too familiar with how that felt. But he remembers…he remembers not wanting it to stop…because he could hear the demon inside screaming curses and wanting out. Looking at Gine, she was the only one who was calm and focused. Of course.

Heavy movement behind him makes him turn around. Broly is taking several steps back as his breathing hitches. His fearful eyes are locked on the scene in the ring. His fingers grip his neck as if he is trying to pull it free.

Vegeta takes notice in an instant, and now he sees a new problem. "This is not a good time for him to freak out!"

"Broly." Tarble calls him with little concern. "It's not there anymore. It will not hurt you. That was the promise, yes? Don't you remember?"

Broly takes a second to think, and he lowers his hands. His neck is bare. There is no collar…

'That idiot removed the collar?' Vegeta is stunned. 'It was the one thing keeping his rage at bay! What could possibly stop him now?!'

Yamcha's sharp scream distracts any new thoughts trying to surface. The fog is hissing, rapidly gathering to an angry ball just above his body.

It finally bursts. Piccolo stops his assault, and Yamcha hits the ground. The fog vanishes in thin air as a collection of pained screeches.

"Yamcha!" Krillin and Tien hurry over to check his condition. There doesn't appear to be any major damage.

"Just as you said. He's still alive." Turles looks at Kakarot. "I saw the fog disappear. Did it retreat somewhere?"

"Most likely," Kakarot says. "I'm not sure if there is a way to destroy Youzi. He's persistent though. Since he failed to have his way with me, he has decided to prey on others instead."

"That annoying pest…" Raditz growls. "You say he's a demon of hatred. I guess that means he's looking for people who have a lot of resentment in their core to use as fuel. And to think it would be him…"

He keeps a close eye on Yamcha, who is regaining consciousness. His friends appear relieved and excited.

"Didn't your son say that the future dances with madness?" Turles asks him.

"Hm? Oh, right. I believe he did. Wouldn't be farfetched to say that the demon rules that world. Good grief…"

"Kid's still sleep, huh?" Nappa frowns at Trunks. "It's unbelievable to think the world he came from makes this one look like a joke. And yet, he walked out of it unscathed."

"I wouldn't say that," Turles mutters. His brothers and the Saiyan general give him puzzled looks. "After our time in the Time Chamber, I can safely say that during his fight with Cell, Trunks was holding back. Trust me."

"So you're saying…he has potential we are yet to witness." Vegeta scoffs. "It doesn't matter now. The coward threw it all away and was forced to forfeit the match. His turn is done."

"You don't understand." Turles frowns. "He has been suppressing so much all this time. You haven't seen what I've seen. That kid is a monster."

All eyes fall on Trunks now. His sleep looks too peaceful.

Him? A monster?

"Yamcha! You're okay!" Krillin's relieved laugh draws the attention back to the ring.

Yamcha is back on his feet, rubbing the back of his neck as he hisses in pain. "Ow…what the hell was that…? It's as if something took a hold of my head."

"Well, you see—"

"I don't know exactly what that was, nor do I care." Cell walks his way towards the fighters, wearing quite a new expression. His steps are heavy, and his words sound pressed. "But now I am annoyed. I feel disrespected. I want to see new faces. Your time is up."

"What…what happened?" Yamcha asks. "Did I do something stupid?"

"You…really don't remember?" Tien asks.

"What?"

"We will worry about that later! Pay attention!" Piccolo shouts. "Here he comes!"

"It took this long for him to lose his patience?" Nappa asks. "Looks like this is it "

"They did the best they could. The original plan was for me to go before the Humans," Gine says. "They would probably have a much easier time if I did. The order he chose to fight us so far has crippled nearly everything we worked on!"

Vegeta huffs. "I'll give them some credit. They lasted longer than the time I gave them."

"Kakarot?" Raditz raises an eyebrow. "Still clinging on to hope, huh?"

"It's not over yet," Kakarot says. "I knew them long enough to know."

"Or maybe you just want to see them get turned into fertilizer…" Turles sighs.

Gine nods. "If Kakarot still believes…then so do I."

Raditz looks at his mother. Gine's eyes harden as she stares at the fighters. She takes several steps towards the ring.

"Human warriors! Prove your worth!" She shouts at them all.

"Mom? What are you doing?" Raditz is confused by her sudden desire to cheer them on. He looks at Turles, but he doesn't have a good answer.

"Go all-out! Fight for the peace you are looking for! Pick up from where you failed! You fought for this long, so don't you dare throw your efforts away! Frieza is done! This planet won't be tormented anymore! Cell is the last obstacle before you and freedom, so fight! Fight! Fight!"

The last two words were spoken in the Saiyan language. The Z-fighters were lost, but they have a rough idea on what was said.

"Well, now we know where Goku gets his motivational speeches from…" Yamcha says.

"But… she isn't wrong. We have to keep fighting, even if the odds are stacked against us," Tien says. "Strength alone doesn't always win, but maybe in this case…it might just give us the final boost we need."

Krillin nods. "Yeah. I remember that. We just have to do this right."

"Yeah. It's about that time." Tien turns to Yamcha. "But you took quite a beating earlier. Do you think your body will be able to handle it?"

Yamcha smiles. "I'll be completely honest. I don't know. My mind is still a bit foggy from whatever happened…and my body is sore. But, it won't make a difference. What matters is doing as much as we can against that overgrown insect before our turn is through. That was the original plan, right?"

Tien chuckles.

"So, are we going to do the thing?" Yamcha asks.

"Let's do the thing" Krillin repeats.

"What thing?" Piccolo is completely lost.

Tien nods. "That's right! Power it up!"

The Z-Fighters flare their energy once more, shouting in sync as their flickering power begins to climb. Piccolo remains somewhat lost, but he joins the trio by powering up as well.

"That's adorable. You're doing this again?" Cell laughs before he launches from the ground at full strength. "Such a shame this won't take long!"

"Cell was toying with them! He's going all-out!" Nappa shouts.

"That's just the pressure they need," Kakarot says.

"Here he comes!" Yamcha announces. "Let's do this!"

The trio of Humans tense and shout;

"KAIO KEN!"

Their energy flares into a raging red. Their violent take-off sends tiles flying.

6) "Wait what—" Cell's face is met by a triple punch thrown by the human fighters. His head snaps violently as his flips across the stage against his will. Just before he could cross the edge, he shakes himself back to focus. "Not this again! As if I'll let you have it! Where are you?!"

The air is whistling. A streak of red arches over Cell before making a sharp turn. Yamcha lands a kick across Cell's head. Another whistle, and Cell is punched in the gut by Krillin. The impact ripples the air as he gags.

A third whistle. Tien lands a sledgehammer atop his head and sends Cell plummeting.

A fourth whistle. Cell is knocked to his left, then his right. The trio streaks of light takes turns attacking him with heavy strikes, tossing his body around in the air like a ragdoll.

Piccolo lands a distance away, watching the lights with a chuckle. "I see. So this was your plan. Alright then. Let's do this." He presses two fingers against his forehead, and energy begins to gather there.

"Whoa. Amazing…" Karot watches as the assault continues. "It's like their energy just shot up!"

"That means the payoff must be heavy," Kakarot says. He almost missed his son taking a cautious step away from him. "I'm not sure how much time they have left. Cell isn't going to let them push him around for long."

"These Humans aren't half bad," Nappa admits. "They really haven't been slacking off."

Cell roars as his energy explodes. It's enough to blow the trio of Humans away, canceling their next breaks of attacks. His eyes lock on Krillin, and he rockets his way with a cold look in his eyes.

"Uh-oh!" Krillin clenches his fists. "Kaio Ken—times TWO!"

"Times what?!" Cell misses his punch. Krillin is right behind him, kicking him down with both feet and sending him plummeting. Cell regains control of his flight and turns in time to block Krillin's punches. "It doesn't matter how much you amplify your power, it will never best me!"

"Pay close attention!" Krillin chuckles.

Cell hears energy flaring above him. He looks up, and it's evident Tien also doubled his Kaio Ken. Cell throws Krillin off him to prepare to counter Tien's attack.

Another flare. Yamcha lands a right hook across Cell's face. Tien kicks him down. He crashes against the ring, bouncing off with a grunt. Krillin is right on his tail in an instant, and he kicks him back in the air.

And towards Yamcha, who is charging up a Kamehameha.

"You little—"

"HAAAAAAAAA!" Yamcha fires. The blast plows Cell back down.

Cell grunts and slams his hands against the blast, fighting to redirect it. It's double its normal size, when before, it took all three of them to create such a blast!

The sound of buzzing makes Cell's heart sink. He turns to his right. Krillin had sent a storm of Destructo Disks, and they are much faster…!

"D…damn! Fine! Let's take it!" Cell stops resisting the blast, and the Kamehameha takes him down, just in time for the disks to miss. He hits the ground, and the tiles break apart and burst from the impact.

Yamcha lowers his hands with a heavy exhale. A scorching pain throbs though his muscles, and he fails to suppress his pained scream.

"You're alright, Yamcha?" Krillin calls.

"Don't…don't worry about me!" Yamcha grunts. "I can handle it just a little longer! We have to keep pushing hi—"

Cell rockets from the cloud and is in front of Yamcha in an instant, charging an ugly yellow blast from the palm of his hand.

Yamcha is kicked. Cell is kicked. The blast misfires, unleashed as a gigantic attack that paints the world a flaming orange.

Kakarot's eyes widen, and he grabs Karot's arm. "It's coming right for us!"

Everyone lunges out the way. Raditz dives and grabs Trunks in the nick of time. The blast grazes his boots before he and Trunks tumble on the shaking ground. Everyone remains low, shutting or shielding their eyes against the bright light. After what felt like forever, everything calmed down.

Kauli coughs out the dust from her lungs as she pushes herself to her feet. Gine and Tarble follow suit nearby. "Is everyone alright?"

"Not dead over here!" Kakarot calls from a distance.

"That's good…but what the hell was that?" Kauli's eyes are fixed on the gigantic dirt cloud. It takes a moment but…upon seeing the damage, her words fail to come out her mouth.

It was as if a piece of the Earth was carved out! The width of the damage was larger than a fissure. The length stretches far, ending at quite a terrifying distance.

And the bottom…

"I…I can't see the bottom…." Gine is stunned. Everyone is. Vegeta is the most, as he was the closest to the impact.

'Had I been an inch closer…!' Vegeta grits his teeth as he crawls back. He's seething, but he can't deny the wave of fear that took a hold of him just then. 'He was holding back this much?! What kind of monster are we dealing with?!'

Tien's face is pale as he fights to catch his breath. "Had I been a second too late…Yamcha would have been toast…!"

"Oh man…that was too close…!" Krillin wipes the sweat that ran down to his chin. "It was like…some kind of full-powered energy wave….!"

Yamcha tries to get back on his feet, but his muscles are screaming in protest. Or…perhaps he's the one screaming. He's back on his knees, unable to do as much as stand anymore. His energy is no longer flowing. He feels lightheaded…and his body is overheating. 'No…! This can't be it…! Not now…!'

"Looks like Piccolo's attack really did a number on him…" Krillin growls. A wave of pain shoots through him, and he tries to shake it off. "Then again…I don't know how much longer my body can take this—oh no!"

Cell is back on his feet, with his head turned far too around to be natural. His hands grip the top and bottom of his head, and with a violent turn, it snaps back into place. He rubs the back of his neck as he surveys the damage. The ring is battered and torn in several places…the pillars had snapped off or collapsed.

The outside field is ravaged from his missed attack.

"Lucky is all they are…" Cell's eyes fall on Yamcha as he gathers condensed energy to his fingertips. "And that luck just about ran out!"

"NOW!" Piccolo screams.

"What?" Cell notices the intense amount of concentrated energy the Namekian had gathered. It has to be it's strongest yet…!

A blast from Krillin above is fired. Cell growls as he swats it away.

"Special Beam CANNOOOOOON!"

The spiraling blast rockets forward. Cell plants his feet and thrusts both hands forward, and he fires a blast to counter Piccolo's own.

While another clash begins, Piccolo's eyes meet with Krillin's, and they narrow.

"Wuh-uh…? Really…?" Krillin is stunned.

"What? What is it?" Tien asks.

"I…" Krillin frowns. "I'm going to need to do it."

"What? Really?"

"The only downside is…I'm going to need your help. Yamcha's out of commission, and Piccolo is occupied at the moment. He can't hold him off forever…I'm going to need time."

Tien appears uneasy, but he gives him a nod. "Yeah. I can do that."

"Just…be careful Tien. You're the only one among us who can pull this off. Don't push it too hard for too long, alright?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. You focus on what you need to do, no matter what happens to me."

"Yeah."

Tien flies down, and Krillin takes a deep breath. "Thing is…I was planning to save this for Goku if we ever had to fight to the death again. But, seeing how things are getting here…I guess I don't have a choice but to use it now."

"Wait. Come again?" Tarble blinks. "A secret technique reserved for Kakarot?"

"What?! Did you pick that up?" Kakarot was surprised for two reasons. One of them being Krillin's claims…but his did Tarble manage to hear that when they are so high in the sky…?

"I…don't know what they are plotting, but it sounds like a final resort," Tarble tells him. "And it looks like it's going to put a strain on all of them."

Kakarot looks back at the scene. What could it possibly be?

Tien drops down on the stage nearby, grabbing Cell's attention.

"So, you've come back?! Where's Krillin?" Cell grins, and he laughs. "Don't tell me his poor heart gave out!"

"You should focus on your own, Cell!" Tien flares his energy again.

"Oh, come on. It's not going to last forever! Just give up and throw the towel. It's not worth throwing your life away over! I just about killed you!"

Tien doesn't listen. He grips his tattered shirt before tearing it free from his body. He plants his feet with a firm stance before crouching close to the ground. He sucks in a sharp breath as his energy begins to grow more wild. In fact, he appears to be in pain.

"What…what are you doing?" Cell is just confused.

Watching the scene below, Krillin takes in a deep breath as his Kaio Ken fades out. His energy stops flaring as closes his eyes. "Alright Tien. Piccolo. I just need you both to hold him off for five minutes…" He raises both hands in the sky, and within seconds, his body is highlighted with a subtle white glow.

"What's going on up there? Krillin's energy just dropped back down." Kakarot is lost. He looks back at Tien. "And Tien's energy is climbing again?"

"I thought you would know," Raditz says.

"Well, yeah. But, I have no idea what kind of training they went though, you know? Whatever it was…it probably nearly killed them."

Gine watches Krillin carefully. His stance, the strange energy, the small bits of light trickling from the ground.

'Don't tell me…!'

Cell frowns. "Is this an attempt at an intimidation technique? Because it's not working. It looks a lot more like you're on the verge of passing out."

"Give me a moment…and you'll be satisfied with the results…!" Tien's voice is strained. He takes in another heavy breath before he screams out a cry of pain. His muscles are expanding more than what they ever did before. The sweat constantly flowing is evaporating on contact. His entire body is steaming.

'No! No! Stop! What do you think you're DOING?!'

King Kai's voice rings strong through Tien's ears. If it weren't for his muscles already feeling like they are on fire, he probably would have collapsed from just how strong his head is beating.

'Listen King Kai. I know you told us to never go beyond two, but things just got drastic. I can't afford to let it get any worse!'

'You idiot! It's not worth pushing your body this far to just get a good shot at Cell! He's just going to heal back up anyway! You and the others did everything possible! There is nothing wrong with throwing the towel!'

'Well, I hate to break it to you…but quitting isn't exactly something I am fond of.'

'Don't you hear yourself?! If that Cell doesn't kill you first, you'll exhaust yourself to death! All you needed to do was to wear him down! That's decent enough! Step aside! Let the Saiyans take over!'

"Best you hurry it up! I can't keep this up!" Piccolo shouts at him.

Tien chuckles. 'The main goal is to deal as much damage as we can against this guy.'

'Stop ignoring me! You're just a human! You're not built to endure this much strain! I wouldn't even recommend Gine to pull a stunt like this off!'

'Well…sorry. My pal Krillin needs my help…and I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure this works. Even if it kills me.'

'What is WRONG with you?!'

Boredom is all over Cell's face.

"Actually, I've decided. I'm not interested." Cell thrusts his hands forward and doubles the intensity of the blast. It eats its way through Piccolo's own.

The Namekians eyes go wide. "Oh no!"

He's struck. An explosion. Piccolo is sent to the ground.

"Damn! Alright…! Come on…!" Tien notices Cell turning his way. "Don't let the strain kill me when I need this the most! Kaio-Ken….!"

"Again…?" Cell prepares to counter, but the strong intensity of the air circulating around Tien catches him by surprise. It just…keeps growing stronger.

"Times…!"

Cracks burst from Tien's feet, spreading across the ring like bolts of lighting. Cell staggers as the ground splits between his feet.

"He's insane!" Gine shouts. "His body won't be able to take it!"

"THREEEEEEEEE!"

The ground gives in below Tien's feet, and he rockets from the ground, shattering the tiles underneath.

"What in the—" Cell crosses his arms over his face. Tien's energy bursts, and he zips around Cell faster than anyone could blink. In just a split second, Tien went from touching the ground to kicking Cell across the ring with a slamming kick at the back of his neck.

Tien's feet touches the ground, and he meets Cell halfway through his flight. He swings his leg, striking Cell square on the chest with his chin. He shoots to the sky, and Tien follows.

Cell growls as he spins himself around to regain control. He blinks, and he is punched across the face. An uppercut breaks his jaw. A sledgehammer sends him crashing through the ground. Tiles fly high and rain back down.

"No…way…" Karot is stunned.

"How is that possible…?" Turles can't wrap his head around what he is witnessing. "Just before, they could hardly touch Cell. But this Kaio-Ken…it's as if they've gone Super Saiyan or something!"

"I wouldn't say they've gone Super. The strength gained from that is much higher," Raditz says. "But, I can see why you would think that. This ability, it looks like it gives them a temporary explosion of energy. But…it's so wild. One little slip up and…"

"It turns against them."

7) All eyes fall on Gine as she watches Tien continue to strike Cell left and right.

"The Kaio-Ken. It doesn't just increase your strength. Your speed and senses multiply as well. It's an incredible technique that comes in handy when things get tough. But…"

"But?" Raditz echoes.

"There's a catch. There is only so much power your body can endure. Especially from an explosion like that. Tien is running on a timer. If his body doesn't turn against him first, then his heart might just give up."

"That's…that's not good." Kauli mutters.

"Then he better wrap this up quickly. He needs to knock Cell out of the stage!" Nappa shouts.

"Not so easy to do, when your body runs faster than your mind can think."

Knowing there is a limit, Kakarot can only wonder what Krillin is doing while Tien is in deep trouble. It's clear that Tien is the distraction. 'Whatever you are doing up there…you need to hurry!'

"Oh man…" Krillin's eyes squint as he listens to the commotion below. The surge of energy he is picking up makes his heart pound. "Tien's energy is insane down there! He's actually giving Cell a run for his money! Or…maybe he's attacking as much as he can so Cell can't retaliate? Whatever he's doing, I just hope he can hold him a bit longer! There's only so much I can do myself! I hate being on a timer!"

Tien locks his hands together before throwing them up in a spike, striking Cell back in the air. He slams him back down. He slaps him across the ring. His body is screaming for him to stop but…

"Not good…he's already running out of steam!" Krillin opens his eyes and looks above his head. "This isn't enough! This planet is practically barren! I'm not getting the energy I need here!"

"He needs energy…?" Tarble echoes.

"What? What did he say?" Kakarot asks.

"Whatever he is doing seems to require an energy source. But the desperation in his voice tells me that this planet is lacking it."

"Oops." Kakarot releases a nervous chuckle.

Yamcha winches as gravel rains down on him. "So, looks like we had to resort to Plan C after all. Well then…alright." He raises a trembling hand towards the sky. Within seconds, his body too, is highlighted a glowing white. "Borrow what you need, Krillin. I'm tapped out…"

"He's…oh, I know what this is!" Gine shouts.

"Whatever information you are withholding…I thought I told you to—"

"I just figured it out!" Gine interrupts Tarble. "This planet may not have enough of it, but we can lend him ours!"

"Say what?" Kauli blinks.

"You can't be serious!" Vegeta growls. "Does he really expect us to give him all of that?!"

"Not all of it! Just a tiny fraction! A little!" Gine says. "It's already taking some of it, see?"

"Huh?" Everyone looks at their own bodies. She was right. Every now and then, a tiny flutter of light would leave their body.

"Maybe if we are willing…it can take just a little more to give him what he needs!"

"That sounds ridiculous!" Vegeta growls.

Kakarot blinks, and he turns to the others. "Actually, he might just be on to something. Come on! Raise your hands in the air!"

"Dah—do you know how stupid that sounds?!"

"Just do it!" Kakarot raises both hands in the air. Immediately, his body is highlighted with the same white glow. The white flutters leaving his body become far more frequent.

"Well…it's not like we can do anything else." Kauli raises her own arms, and her body falls in the same state. "Come on, Turles. Don't be an ass."

"Tch. Can't go one day without calling me that?" Turles raises both hands.

Then Karot.

Then Tarble.

Gine raises both of her hands, but nothing seems to come out of her. She continues pushing and pushing further. "It's not taking my energy."

"Maybe because you're dead?" Kauli asks her.

"... Oh. That's right…"

"Well…we might as well, Vegeta." Nappa raises his own hands. "This isn't the time to be stubborn. You saw what Cell is capable of, and we already know we can't fight him at full strength. We just need to weaken him, so we stand a better chance!"

Vegeta snarls at the very concept. "To rely on the Earthlings….!"

"Every bit of effort counts!" Nappa shouts at him. "This isn't the time to be stubborn, Vegeta! The consequences of you and your father's actions are going to kill us! Do you really want to die a humiliating death, all because you gave the ticket to our enemy?!"

Vegeta's lips curl back as he seems ready to say some rather colorful words. He shuts his eyes and blurts out. "Fine! But if the Earthling throws this away, I'll kill him myself!"

He throws both hands in the air, adding his own energy to the growing cluster.

Krillin blinks as the gathered sphere triples in size. "What…? Where…?" He looks down, and he is in disbelief. "No way….!"

-- 0000 --

Inside the ship, everyone has their hands in the air as their eyes watch the combat from the monitor. Cheelai, Lemo, Oolong, Puar, Launch, and Chichi are sending their support the best ways they can muster.

Baby Trunks coos as he waves his tiny hands in the air, trying to catch the flutters of light leaving his body. He's unaware of his own contribution.

"Kick his ass, Tien! You got this!" Launch, in her blonde state, kicks at the air as she watches Tien hammering Cell with relentless attacks. "Don't you let that insect get you!"

"Come on, Krillin…!" Oolong cheers. " I'm lending you as much as I can! I hope it's enough!"

"Don't let Yamcha die!" Puar shouts.

Cheelai and Lemo exchange glances before they look at ChiChi. She's silently watching. Her expression is hard to read.

'They are treating this like it's the final finishing attack of all time…' ChiChi keeps her focus. 'But instead…it's just the very break we need to have a surviving chance.'

-- 0000 --

Cell finally catches Tien's first, and they are both surprised. Cell immediately replaces his expression with a grin. "Well, it looks like you've run out of momentum! It was nice for you, while it lasted!"

He slams his knee below Tien's ribs, and he throws him through the ground. He jumps back, wheezing as he tossed his head around. He won't deny it. It certainly did hurt. Already, his injuries are healing and the pain is numbing. But still…he didn't think a human out of all things would manage to hit him that many times!

"Anything else?" Cell challenges Tien, who is climbing out his own crater. "No? What about you, Piccolo? No more Special Beam Cannons?"

"Damn it all…" Piccolo growls. "If I try it again, he'll just dodge it!"

"So, that's it then? At long last? It's about time!" Cell laughs. "You did your best! That's all that matters, right? You pushed your bodies to the limits, and you lived this long! I could praise you all day if I wanted, honest! I'm not even trying to make fun of you. The three of you really shattered my expectations. And for that; I will make sure your death is as quick and painless as possible."

Tien tries to speak, but his very muscles are cramping. He can only bite back a scream.

"Tien's in trouble…! Not good…!" Krillin catches sight of something else. Someone is moving….

"Huh?!" Trunks finally opens his eyes, and he lifts his head in a hurry.

"You're finally awake?" Nappa asks him. "You basically missed a whole show, kid."

"What…?" Trunks is confused. The air feels different—no, the atmosphere. There is a strange pressure in the air he can't figure out.

He looks at the ring, and his jaw drops at the ravaged state it is in. Piccolo is on the sidelines, looking absolutely battered. And then there is Yamcha on the ground. He's not dead but…his energy looks strange.

And then Tien! What's going on with Tien?! His muscle mass has tripled in size, and the energy he is radiating is incredible!

And Krillin? Where is…

Why is the ground bathed in white light?

Why does everyone have their arms in the air—

He looks up. His tail freezes in place.

"What…what IS that?!"

"Damn!" Vegeta hisses. Cell had overheard and looked up as well. "Idiot can't keep his mouth shut!"

"What is THAT?!" Cell's eyes are wide. "That's what you were doing this entire time?!"

"No you don't…!" Tien jumps at Cell, but he is kicked back down.

"You're through! All of you are! Don't push yourself so much, just accept it!" Cell's body is engulfed with energy as he prepares to take off. "Whatever that is, I'll just have to destroy it!"

A flash of green flies past Cell's vision. He looks back. Piccolo has his arms extended towards him. The arms…they don't end?

They are wrapping around his body, and the arms lock in place.

"What?!" Cell tries to flex his way free. "Oh, come on!"

"NOW!" Piccolo roars.

"What?! Are you sure?!" Tien shouts.

"I can take it! Stop stalling and do it!"

"Alright then!" Tien pushes himself to his feet. His legs wobble like jelly, close to giving in. He sucks in another sharp breath, but his lungs are burning. 'No…no! Body…don't you dare give up! Just one more push! That's all I need from you! Please!'

"Hey kid!" Nappa calls Trunks.

"Uh, y-yeah?!"

"Your hands! Give the Earthling a bit of help!"

"Help?" Trunks puts the two together, and he nods. "Right! Gotcha!" He throws his arms up high, adding his own energy to the cluster. He turns to Broly who is doing the same.

For Tien to do as much as move his arms feels as if his very muscles are on the verge of tearing. Still, he brings his fingers together to form the shape of a triangle.

"He's crazy!" Kakarot recognizes the stance. "That Kaio Ken is already taking a toll on him! If he does that, he might just….!"

"Tri Beam…!"

"No…!" Cell begins to thrash, but Piccolo does not let go. "Not that again! Don't you dare! DON'T YOU DARE!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Cell's eyes go wide as everything around him bathes in yellow light. The gigantic blast rivals the very one he attempted to unleash before. He screams as it comes closer, until it strikes him head on.

Once again, everything is shaking. Dirt and debris are flying. Despite the aggressive wind, everyone holds their ground in an effort to not be blown away.

"That's some insane energy…!" Nappa shouts over the explosion. "He's gone mad!"

"Doesn't he realize that…!" Kakarot can't even finish his sentence as the shockwaves threaten to knock him down. Karot is forced to hang on to Raditz's leg.

After several intense seconds, everything settles. The cloud begins to clear. Tien remains standing, breathing with heavy and wheezing breaths as he fights to keep his eyes open. His trembling hands are steaming as they fall limp.

Piccolo is still alive, standing just outside the path of destruction, with both arms completely blown off, clean from the shoulders. The Namekian steps back before falling on his back, exhausted.

As for Cell…

The bio-Android still stands…with his exoskeleton completely burned off. His body is trembling with indescribable pain. His energy is flowing wild as he sends the most heated glare he could muster. "That…that actually hurt…!"

"He's…all of that…and it's just the armor…?" Tien's eyes are too heavy. "That…bastard…"

He collapses on the ground. His body reverts to normal. His energy is dropping like a stone.

"No…" Yamcha groans as he tries to get to his feet again. "Tien Shinhan….!"

Cell takes in a deep breath, and he flexes. Within several seconds, his hardened shell regenerates and coats his body again. He flexes his arms, checking their function. His eyes fall on Tien as he sneers. "One…"

He finds Piccolo.

"Two…"

And the struggling Yamcha.

"Three…"

He looks up, meeting Krillin's terrified face.

"Let's make it four!"

"No!" Krillin gasps. "Damn! This isn't enough, but what else can I do?!" He throws both arms down, and the massive sphere shoots downward. The scale compared to Krillin's body, it has to be double the size.

"Your final effort!" Cell picks up his speed, and he makes a sharp turn around the sphere, dodging it with ease. "It's futile!"

"No!" Krillin screams.

"No…!" Yamcha groans.

"No…" Gine covers her mouth.

"You're finished!" Cell vanishes before reappearing above Krillin. He elbows him right in the middle of his chest. Something snaps, and Krillin's scream is horrific as he makes the plummet towards the ground.

He crashes through, just outside the ring.

"Krillin…!" Yamcha tries to move again, but all he manages to do is send a fresh new surge of pain through his body.

"You should have just taken your praise and stepped out," Cell growls as he drops his arm. "Humans always make it a bad habit to have the last word in everything."

The sphere is racing towards the ground. Everyone prepares to lunge out the way.

"Wait a second!" Gine seems to have an idea.

"What is it?" Raditz is intrigued.

"Broly! I need Broly!"

"Broly?!"

Broly turns to Gine. He doesn't waste much time joining her side.

"Broly. I need you to send that sphere of light back! Can you do that?"

"Doesn't that go against the rules?" Trunks asks.

"Forget the dumbass rules! Our lives are on the line here!" Turles shouts at him. "Besides, this is Krillin's attack! It still counts!"

"But why him?! He's going to cower!" Vegeta shouts. He certainly isn't wrong. Broly looks more nervous the closer the sphere gets.

"If any of us tries to deflect it, it will only kill us at worst!" Gine shouts. "That's a Spirit Bomb! As long as one doesn't have an ounce of evil in them, they won't get hurt by it!"

"What?!" Vegeta growls. "You—the concept of evil varies, damn it! What about you?! What about the kid?!"

Gine lowers her head. "I don't want to risk it. You have to trust me on this. You hear me, Broly? I won't leave your side! None of us will."

"As if!"

"Come on!" Gine pushes her hands forward. "Just like this! Alright?"

Broly stares for a few seconds, and he nods. He faces the growing sphere head on, and he thrusts both hands forward with a shout.

It bounces right off. Broly stumbles.

The Spirit Bomb shoots right back up the sky.

Cell was just a leap away from reaching Krillin when he notices the light. He looks back. "How did it—"

A stray blast shoots through his knees. He grunts and catches sight of Yamcha below, grinning at his pain.

"Yamcha…!"

8) It engulfs Cell, and like a chemical reaction, the sphere bursts with Cell inside. His screams rip through the air as he tries to crawl his way out, but with each attempt, he is pulled back in.

The second Krillin makes contact with the ring, he sprints over to Tien first. He scoops him up by his back, and he throws him with all his might. "Medic! Hurry!"

Gine jumps and catches Tien in her arms. She lowers him in the ground as Kauli hurries over with a Senzu bean.

"AAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAAAA!"

The constant booming explosions…the amount of energy flinging from the warping sphere…

The shadow of Cell within the core being burned over and over again….!

Kakarot couldn't believe it. This is…

This could have been him?!

A final explosion, and Cell vanishes in the clouds.

Silence.

"Hah…hahahaha…." Krillin is trembling as he looks at his hands. He can't seem to stop shaking. "It…it actually worked…holy crap—ow, ow, ow…broken ribs…!"

Kakarot takes a seat on the ground. The intensity of that attack…he can't measure if he could crawl out alive after that. The fact that Krillin has that hidden up his sleeve all this time…

"Did…did it work….?"

Tien's exhausted voice…he's still alive.

"Did we actually get Cell…?"

"We sure did buddy!" Krillin stands at the edge of the ring, with a stupid smile on his face. He has Yamcha leaning against his shoulder in a very awkward slouch. He looks like he's struggling to not cry out in pain due to the weight he's carrying.

"Even if he does survive that—which I'm sure he does—there is absolutely no way he'll just bounce back immediately." Yamcha forces out a laugh. "He has those rapid healing abilities, but even those have to have a limit, right?"

"Yeah. You…aren't wrong…!" Piccolo joins the group, earning bewildered looks as he limps with no arms in sight. He takes a quick look at his shoulders. "Oh, that? Don't worry. It won't kill me. I'm not built like you all. I can live just fine this way…although unfortunately I'm too exhausted to regenerate both arms…!"

He tenses his body and shouts. His right arm shoots out, fresh and new…and coated with mucus.

Turles covers his face, having enough of the sight in one day.

Piccolo pats his other shoulder. "I'll do fine with just one arm for now."

Smiles vanish as everyone's attention turns back to the sky. They wait. It's only a matter of time.

Within just a handful of seconds, the figure of Cell falls through the grey clouds, and crashes through the ring in a heavy slam. Tiles fly and rain down as others go loose. A massive crater is sunken in the ground, with bio-Android laying motionless within the core.

Compared to Tien's Tri-Beam, Cell's body is already healing…which meant it was probably healing during his fall. Both of his wings are completely burned off. It takes several seconds for merely a third of it to grow back.

"No way…." Krillin mutters. "It's…it's actually slowing down…!"

Trunks can't fathom what he just witnessed…but it's perhaps the best thing he has seen all day. In fact, it's the best thing everyone has seen all day.

His wings only came back halfway. The scratches and bruises on his body don't fade away.

His body can't completely heal anymore!

"Well…I'll be damned." Kauli blinks. "We actually made decent progress."

"But for it to take all of that?" Nappa is stunned. "What the hell did those scientists do?"

The realization sinks in for nearly everyone. It's difficult to believe…that the mind behind Cell were just…a small group of people.

"...I'll tell you what they did," Trunks said. "They wanted to make the ultimate weapon that will destroy all of us. After failing time after time to turn us against each other, they decided, why not? Why not combine their enemy's traits and abilities into one body? A body that will outclass the perpetrator in every single way. Something far more dangerous than the Androids…with the traits that made the likes of Chille near impossible to kill."

"Aren't you a clever boy…?"

Cell's voice makes everyone step back. He is slow to get back to his feet. His breathing is unsteady for several seconds as his eyes shift between each warrior. Upon seeing Trunks, they narrow. He fixes his posture and continues.

"It's too bad you lack that intellect in the battlefield. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. It took a bunch of Earthlings and one Namekian to push me to a state in which I can fully pull myself together. They gave me a harder time than you did. They poured their hearts and lives into doing that…while you ran away like a snot-nosed brat."

Cell takes note of Tien no longer being in the ring. He sees the condition everyone else is in, and he sighs.

"You four…have earned my respect. I was convinced that this body was indestructible. Perhaps I got a little too cocky. Must be the Vegeta talking."

"Don't you dare…!" Vegeta growls.

"All of you are well spent. I'd say it's time for you to step out of the ring."

"What…?" Piccolo growls. "You're demanding us to just quit?! We will have a lot of fight left in us! We'll take you on until you have nothing to regenerate from!"

"You and I both know you just gave your all. That's it. There is nothing left to give."

Cell vanishes, and he reappears behind Piccolo. He slams both feet against his back, sending him crashing outside the ring. He turns to the remaining Human fighters.

"No, it's okay! We don't need your help!" Krillin waves his hands with a nervous laugh as he and Yamcha make their way out. They join the others on the sidelines.

"You fought well," Gine says.

Krillin shrugs. "I guess so. But, it almost doesn't feel like we did our best. Cell isn't even breathing hard."

"But you did exactly what you were supposed to do," Tarble said. "That's a success in my book."

"What…? You're serious?"

"Please. Don't praise them," Vegeta says. "I am in no mood to hear their clowning."

Kauli shakes her head as she walks over to Krillin. "You forgot about these magic beans."

"Senzu Beans," Tien corrects her.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Thanks." Krillin eats a bean, and he flexes, feeling his strength return in an instant. "That's a relief."

Yamcha happily takes one, and he's back on his feet. He swings his arms side to side before standing tall. "Aw man. I do not want to experience that pain ever again. But…I think I'd rather take that than whatever the heck went up my nose!"

"Huh?"

He notices Raditz watching, and he turns away. He's not quite ready to resolve things, it seems. "It's like something just took a hold of my mind. Made getting angry…too easy…"

"That's right. That was Youzi!" Kauli exclaims.

"Yo- who?"

"Is that what it felt like, Goku?" Krillin wonders.

"When you put it like that…yeah. Pretty much," Kakarot says. He is surprised he didn't think too much of it. Or maybe he did? It was brushed aside either way. "I remember how he would reward me for feeding into it. That thing…I said it before. He feeds off anger and hate so easily. I guess…he found Gohan and Yamcha easy to take over."

Saying that out loud, Kakarot realizes that it really is his fault that Youzi got as strong as he got. The amount of people that probably felt hatred at their final moments—how it feeds Youzi's power. And now, he's strong enough to attack others without the need of some sort of necklace—his anchor.

'I don't really have much of a choice, do I?' Kakarot frowns. After what he just witnessed…

"Do you think…?" Nappa glances over at Tarble.

"Huh? You think it took a hold of Tarble?" Kakarot's question makes Nappa grip his own head. Was he not supposed to say that aloud?

"I'm sorry? Are you implying that a demonic creature managed to break through my psyche and make a fool out of me?" Tarble asks.

Nappa grows uneasy. "It's…don't take it personal."

The thought never once crossed Trunks' mind. But… it almost makes sense, now that he thinks about it. Could it be possible? Could his own Tarble have been influenced by that terrible Youzi?

Although, it could be something else. Maybe it wasn't the demon's influence. But, it's so easy to see why one would think so. What it did to Kakarot…

His thoughts are halted as the ground darkens. Trunks looks up. Clouds have gathered in the sky, blocking out the sun at last.

"Ew. It looks like it might actually rain again." Kauli grumbles

"Rain?" Kakarot echoes. He looks towards the sky. "Those are some angry-looking clouds."

Gine takes a look, transfixed by the sky. "Actually… I would appreciate it if it does actually rain…"

"Does rain soothe you?" Kauli asks, looking at the sky with her. "It sure does the opposite for me..."

"It's… quite nostalgic, actually." She admits with a pitiful smile. "And the heat from the sun can stay out of the way for a while. It's nice."

"It's too bad it's overshadowed by that monster over there." Tien watches as Cell walks around the ring. It's almost a pile of stones from how much damage it took.

"He's just pacing around," Nappa says. "I guess he's thinking about who to pick next."

Kauli gathers her nerves together. "Well…we will just have to kick his ass the best way we can! We got a better chance, don't we?"

"Depends on who he chooses next," Vegeta says.

"Still have no faith in anyone after what you've just witnessed?" Tarble asks.

"Idiot. I never said that. All I am saying is; if he decides to choose Broly right away, we don't know what will happen.

"There is no need to worry," Tarble said. "Broly has practiced soothing exercises to keep his temper under control."

"Soothing…exercises….?"

While the pair of prices continue their odd discussion, Nappa decides to point out something strange.

"You seem oddly calm about all this, Kakarot," Nappa says. "I know you're just as aware as Turles and I about the potential around here but… you're too relaxed. You realize this is a death match, right? Or have you gone stupid?"

"Oh, I know." Kakarot doesn't look at him. He watches as Cell continues to pace around. "But I'm not afraid or anything."

"But how can you be so casual about all this?" Turles asks.

Kakarot smiles. "I've been prepared for the worst all year last week."

Somehow, those words alone make those nearby a bit unnerved. What does he have planned, exactly?

Whatever it is… he's very confident about it…

"Kakarot." Raditz speaks up. "Whatever it is, tell us. How effective is it?"

"If I tell you now, it won't work anymore," Kakarot responds. "You just have to trust me."

"T-trust—"

"Yeah. That sounded dumb. I did a lot of crazy things lately. I think trust is a big word coming from me." Kakarot taps his chin. "But I really mean what I say, big brother. I know what I am doing. Don't worry too much, okay?"

"Kakarot. You're scaring me."

"You always say that."

Gine opens her mouth, but a loud and single clap from Cell silences all conversation.

"Alright. I've decided," Cell announces. "I hope you are ready. I had a little fun fighting more than one opponent. It caught me by surprise. Sure, it got annoying and frustrating at times, but that's what is expected to happen in a fight, right?" He chuckles. "So I think I should turn up the notch a little."

Everyone tenses as he raises a finger. He hums to himself as his eyes shift over to Gine, then Broly…then Nappa…

He lowers his hand, pointing at a single warrior.

"Alright, Vegeta! It's your turn. Time for you to desperately attempt to regain your honor."

"What?" Tarble is just as stunned as his brother.

"Me before Kakarot?!" Vegeta snaps.

"Oh, don't take it so personal, Vegeta. I'm practically saving the best for last! Sure, you may be stronger than Goku, but he's what people want to see get absolutely murdered! He doesn't get the luxury of getting a ring out or anything. He only gets to die! Consider yourself lucky, Vegeta. You and everyone else are granted living privileges. Well, everyone else excluding Ice over there. Don't think I forgot that promise I made with your sister."

Kauli growls.

"Now, let's see. How do we make this more interesting for me? Do we toss…Raditz in there? Maybe the mother…? No…no. That will just surface an ugly combination. Right. Bring your babysitter along… and the blind bastard."

"Wh—" Nappa blinks.

"I…I beg your pardon?" Tarble almost didn't catch it. Did Cell just call them—

"Tch. Whatever. I don't care who you tag along. What matters is I will be the one to finish you off, Cell." Vegeta points a thumb towards his chest. "What happened in the past…forget about it. The thing about Saiyans is that we adapt after every battle. You won't get the opportunity to humiliate me twice!"

"Don't eat those words then," Cell shrugs. "We will see how long you will last. Who will save you this time, I wonder?"

Vegeta snarls, but Nappa places a hand on his shoulder to restrain him.

"This time…we will give you the battle you are looking for, you freak." Nappa's lips part into a grin as he clenches both fists. "I'm sick and tired of the Androids making me look like a sack of potatoes! It's about time I show the world just why I was selected by the Saiyan king!"

Cell crosses his arms. "Then, by all means."

The trio approach the ring, stepping over any scattered debris. Tarble can somehow tell, that Broly is watching him. Everyone is watching. Vegeta especially…will be watching.

Tarble's eyes are burning with an unspeakable amount of determination.

"All the anger I felt building up throughout this tournament…it's about time I get to let loose," Tarble says.

"You speak like a true Saiyan." Nappa steps in the ring along with the two princes. "It's time to rock the Earth with true warrior might!"

"Hmph." Vegeta wastes no time, slipping into his fighting stance. The other two follow suit. "Then try not to lose your head, Nappa."

Cell smiles as he adjusts his own battle stance, perfectly mirroring Vegeta's own. It was clear mockery. It was written all over his face.

'I would like to see you try.'

---

BONUS: OTES GAMING TIME!

Today's topic… quotes! (Such as what you see in Xenoverse!)

QUOTE 1; Saiyan Anger Quotes! (If a Saiyan you face says this, you might had done something that ticked them off well beyond normal. Keep making the wrong moves, and they may get set into their primal mindset!)

Primal Mindset. A.K.A "Going feral".

QUOTE 2; Pre-Primal Mindset Quotes! (If a Saiyan you face in battle says this… their violent instincts are starting to overwhelm them due to them feeling so much rage!) Note: This is an extremely rare case. The chances of angering them so far is slim to almost none!

Once they reach the state… they lose their minds!

*Kakarot:

Quote 1: "You're going to regret doing that… I'll make you pay…! I'LL MAKE YOU PAAAAY!"

Quote 2: "Damn you… DAMN YOU…! You can just die… DIE ALREADY!"

*Raditz:

Quote 1: "I'm DONE with this shit! It's time for you to DIE, SCUM!"

Quote 2: "You… I'm going to slaughter you… and let the blood flow!"

*Turles:

Quote 1: "This cannot happen! Dying here…? YOU'RE the one going to die!"

Quote 2: "Heh… you're asking me to get ugly…! The teeth are out, now…"

*Vegeta:

Quote 1: "You… Bastard… you're dead, you hear me?! Nobody can defeat PRINCE VEGETAAAA!"

Quote 2: You're going to be blown to tiny pieces, and THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!"

*Nappa:

Quote 1: "GRRAAAH! YOU…! I'LL KILL YOOOOOOU!"

Quote 2: "RAAAAAAAAH! DIIIIIIIIIIE!"

*Tarble:

Quote 1: "You're asking to scream bloody murder….! I can assure... THAT will be granted…!"

Quote 2: "Everything… you… everything you care about… will be destroyed… destroyed…! YOU CAN JUST DROP DEAD!"

*Kauli:

Quote 1: "Now I wonder if I can stomach my own thoughts...! We can find that out here and now!"

Quote 2: "I never felt so much anger in my life…! *Heavy inhale* heh heh heh…"

*Broly:

Quote 1: "Rrrragh….! Y-you…! YOOOOOOU!"

Quote 2: "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

*Karot:

Quote 1: "Stop it...! If I get too angry… I'll…!"

Quote 2: "YOU… AAANIIIMAAAL!"

*Seleriak:

Quote 1: "I already lost everything..! Losing it again.. No…! You'll be DEAD before that happens!"

Quote 2: "Gggh…! I hate it… I hate it…! Everything is so red….!"

*Gine:

Quote 1: "Now, you've got me all worked up…! *gasp* That's enough…! I-I don't want…!"

Quote 2: "I am going to kill you… nice. And. Slow."

---

A/N: Finally finished!

Once again, I deeply apologize for the incredibly long wait. I guess I should call it an unplanned hiatus at this point.

Growth rant incoming:

I made myself re-read the entire series in order to refresh my mind in everything written so far. And let me tell you, the amount of nonsense I've written years ago is hilarious. The power levels were all over the place. The entire fight against Frieza had me pulling my hair. The power scaling was stupid there. Lol.

Frieza should have won.

And book 3…what the heck was I doing? It's so edgy for no reason. Gosh… this may have a lot to do with why the story suddenly went on hiatus. The overall plot of the first three books were a mess. (The beginning of book 4 isn't that much better lol) The REPEATING dialogue and expositions had me rolling my eyes. The embarrassment was holding me back. Honestly if anyone dropped the story between books 2 and 3, I don't blame them. Kakarot ranting about how Frieza is cruel for wiping out the Saiyans is so hypocritical coming from someone who wiped out the human race.

Although, I will say this; Writing OTES was an experience. It taught me how to write, and I can see all the mistakes I've made through the years! It's fun to look into to see how I grew. Something I started back when I was 16.

I'm almost 25 now. I'm not sure if there will be a book 5, but at the slim chance there is, I'll surely pour everything I learned into it! As I will in these final chapters!

Also I apologize for the ranty lifestory author notes back then. Reading those gave me quite a lot of embarrassment. Haha….

---

Transition:

"Nǐ sǐle hěnjiǔ" - "You are long dead"

---

Possible Questions:

PQ1: "Will we have to wait another two years for an update?"

A: I hope not. The fact this book is still ongoing since 2017 is ridiculous. I should had been finished, but things kept getting in the way. And motivation didn't stick. I was able to finish this due to a spark of motivation (ironically), and the fact I figured out what was bugging me for so long.

The major edits modern me added here was the majority of the chapter, and the music. I left the bonus section above alone since it's…somewhat nostalgic, and I know younger me would want to keep it.

PQ2: "No book 5?"

A: I said that book 5 would take place in-between the Cell and Buu saga…but from how things are looking, I don't think that will happen. Book 5 might just be the Buu saga after all.

Although it's not guaranteed. Hence why I haven't done a title contest yet.

PQ3: "Vegeta has hardly had any development throughout the series."

A: Yup. I've noticed it. If he did change, it's more like he became a little more tolerant towards things. But, his overall attitude and perspective hasn't changed…yet. Years ago I already plotted out something…and that something hasn't changed.

PQ4: "Is Youzi just leeching off anyone now?"

A: Yes and no. Youzi feeds off hatred, as we had seen over the series. If anyone feels it at such an extent, Youzi takes advantage of it and feeds more into their consciousness…making the individual more aggressive. So far, we've seen this happen with a lot of the characters. Let's see if you can name who.

PQ5: "The human fighters actually held their own?"

A: In a sense, somewhat. They aren't the strongest in the world, but their teamwork is incredible. We've seen this displayed in Dragon Ball Super, and you know, I had fun writing their combinations.

PQ6: "Any regrets in this series?"

A: Hoo-boy. I can't really get mad. Considering I wrote this when I was years younger and still a young teenager lol. I had the tendency to pour whatever the heck I was learning at the time into the story. So during the time I was taking Psychology all that uh…book 3 and early book 4 events happened. And back then I had the idea that "characters being overall spiteful to each other = great drama" and "character going through a lot of pain = good plot" when overall it was unnecessary and dragging on for too long. Reading this with fresh eyes was…quite an experience. But you know what? I would have never learned if I didn't make those mistakes.

But my gosh, it's so edgy. Lol. If you are binge-reading this, I apologize for the whiplash. For you, this is probably a month or so of reading. But for me, this is 6 years! A lot can really change within that time. It's crazy.

Huh. Almost 7 years. That's exactly the gap between the Cell and Buu saga. How funny.

Oh, right. And if anyone decides to write their own AU story very similar to this series…I honestly don't care anymore. I dunno why younger me was trying so hard to "protect" the idea, as if I was the first to come up with it when I wasn't.

It's not like I'm updating this constantly enough. Honestly I'm down to read other takes on the AU.

---

Question Time:

Q: It's like Rick and Morty, multiverse theory is crazy.

A: Oh yeah. It certainly is. Quite a fan of multiverse theory. Lol. It's crazy to think that this story's Future Trunks came from a branch of time that almost mirrors the one in this story. But then Cell comes from a timeline completely different. Closer to canon, almost? It's fun to play with.

Q: Keep it up I love this story please.

A: Whoa thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it despite its many flaws.

Q: OMG DIS IS GOFFIK

A: I am going to assume you meant "graphic"? "Gothic"? I dunno. But yeah. It's a dark story.

---

Next Time:

*Insert DBZ Kai's "episode preview theme" here*

Nappa: (Determined) General Nappa here, reporting from the battlefield.

Cell has decided that we would be a better entertainment, huh? We are going to make him regret those words!

Vegeta: (Annoyed) As if I'll let that cockroach-reject humiliate me the same way twice! Here I come, Cell! I hope you said your prayers!

Cell: (Laughs) You are hilarious! You know, there is something I never really got to do the last time we've fought!

Tarble: (Focused) Don't be so rash! This isn't just your fight, damn it!

Nappa: (Alert) Hey, hey! We can't fight amongst ourselves here!

Nappa: Next time on; "The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan"! Chapter 24: "Time for the elites to take the floor! Incredible display of power!"

Tarble: (Frightened) Is this really it? Is this truly their perspective…?

---

Review?

To be Continued in Chapter 24!

---

Upcoming Chapters: (Read at your own risk!)

Chapter 24: "Time for the elites to take the floor! Incredible display of power!" Cell had decided to make things more interesting. After his battle against the Humans, he finds a thrill to fighting more than one opponent. He demands all three of the "higher ranking" Saiyans to take a stand. Surely, they can overwhelm him… right? It's hard to say, but they didn't train for nothing. The only concern is of Vegeta and Tarble can even work together properly during this intense fight!

Chapter 25: "Relentless Brothers, do your best! A reason to stay alive!" Cell has finally made to call to battle Kakarot, but sooner than expected. Seems he decided to bend his own rules due to his own boredom. Fight like Saiyans, he says! Go all-out, for the sake of Planet Earth! It's not a good sign when combined efforts doesn't do as much as hoped. Cell has all the techniques. He knows every counter. They can only keep their fingers crossed. Just how powerful is he? When things seem to turn sour, one Saiyan is terrified of losing it all. Their action leads to an unseen consequence!

Chapter 26: "The situation turns bleak! Don't lose your determination!" Every effort seems to fall. Perfect Cell is just to… perfect! There appears to be no flaw in anything about him. Kakarot and his brothers reluctantly agree to allow Karot to fight Perfect Cell on his own, which seems to be a huge shocker for most! Future Trunks feels the need to step in, afraid of losing Karot twice! Perfect Cell decides that since the Saiyans sent their children to fight… why not send his… own? Oh boy. This is… not an ideal playdate for anyone.

Chapter 27: "Clear your mind, and just let go! Become your own warrior!" Everything seems to be… impossible to recover from. This is the moment everyone sees their own major flaws. This entire fight is the consequences of everyone's decisions. Running away, holding back… it will do nothing. But even with their best efforts… what can they do? What do they see in themselves? What does Karot see within himself? They saw half-breeds have greater potential. Is that what they are afraid of? To lose due to being afraid of breaking your own limits seems cowardly. Just… let it go.

Chapter 28: "The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan" The true potential that was seen from time to time among the hybrids is here. And it brings a greater promise than foreseen! Perfect Cell has finally met his match! There's a chance! A major chance! The long fight can finally come to an end! But there is a major role that the warriors seem to have forgotten. Never should anyone lower the guard… no matter what. The consequences are life-threatening, after all… so what do you do? You push aside your grudges… and make up for your mistakes. Combine your efforts, even if it seems futile.